Adelante outlines senior-meal operations; county provides $120,000 cash and $260,000 in-kind support

Adelante Development Center presented an overview of senior meal services delivered across rural Doña Ana County and the agency’s funding mix during the March 25 meeting.

Robin Johnson, senior director of business operations for Adelante, told commissioners the nonprofit provided 42,028 congregate meals in 2024 (683 active congregate clients) and delivered 80,284 home-delivered meals to 482 active homebound seniors on 11 rural routes from Garfield to Sunland Park. "Home delivered service is the largest service that we provide in Dona Ana, and it seems to be the one with the greatest need," Johnson said.

Nut graf: Adelante described three service lines — congregate meals at six sites, transportation, and home-delivered meals — and reviewed federal and state grants and county support that sustain the program. The agency said it does not serve the City of Las Cruces (which has separate services) and identified key funders and amounts.

Funding details presented: Title III transportation federal funding ~$65,000; federal home-delivered funds (C1) ~$115,000 and state match ~$365,000; NSIP federal food funds ~$70,000 (split roughly $35,000 to home-delivered and $35,000 to congregate); Doña Ana County provided $120,000 in cash funding plus approximately $260,000 in in-kind support (facility and vehicle use, insurance). Adelante also reported $27,000 in program-income donations and one-time junior-appropriation awards totaling approximately $210,000 for FY25.

Ending: Commissioners expressed support and asked HR and budget offices to consider sustainability if federal funding levels change. Adelante provided a contact number for service requests and said the organization had eliminated its home-delivered wait list this year after receiving additional state funds.