Vernon County senior nutrition program reports lower meal totals, plans 2026 RFP and emergency-meal options

Vernon County staff provided updates on the county's senior nutrition services at a public meeting, reporting fewer meals year to date, describing meal sites and caterers, announcing a June timeline for senior farmers market vouchers, and asking for guidance on emergency-meal options and next year's contracting process.

The report matters because the nutrition program delivers meals to older residents across multiple towns, affects hundreds of daily recipients, and requires procurement and contingency planning to ensure service during weather closures and staff gaps.

Staff said April meal totals were 2,606 home-delivered meals and 1,205 congregate meals, for 3,811 meals that month; year-to-date counts reported were 9,179 home-delivered and 4,126 congregate, a combined total the presenter described as 13,370 meals so far this year. Staff also said there were six days in the first three months when meal service was canceled because of weather; two emergency meals were supplied to home-delivery recipients during those closures.

Site and caterer assignments listed in the update: in DeSoto the site and caterer were reported as "the bright spot" (caterer not named); Hillsborough is served by home delivery only with Saint Joe's as the caterer; Lafarge's congregate site remains Kickapoo Haven with Kickapoo Corners as caterer; Reedstown's site is Valley View Apartments with Kickapoo Corners as caterer; Viroqua uses Parkview Manor with Kickapoo Corners; and Westby uses the United Methodist Church with Kickapoo Corners as caterer.

On procurement, staff said the county will issue a request for proposals for the 2026 nutrition catering contract. Proposals are to be accepted for about a month, with submissions due the week before the Human Services Committee meeting; staff gave June 16 as the deadline and said proposals will be reviewed by the Human Services Committee on June 18.

Staff also described planning for emergency meals for roughly 145 daily recipients on the route under discussion. Staff provided estimated per-meal costs: a shelf-stable emergency meal about $3.80 to $4.00; frozen emergency meals under existing contract roughly $8.50 to $9.00 per meal. Staff asked the group for input on whether to purchase shelf-stable or frozen emergency meals for the 2026 budget; several members favored providing two shelf-stable meals because of lower cost and longer shelf life. One participant noted, "It's part of the regulatory nutritional requirements," when staff explained that certain items (for example, milk) are required by federal or program nutrition rules.

Staff previewed the Senior Farmers Market Nutrition Program: distribution of checks can begin June 1 and field distribution will start the first market stop on Sunday, June 2; checks can be picked up at the county office or signed for by designated proxies. Staff gave multiple, inconsistent tallies for voucher availability during the meeting (at one point saying 25 this year, later saying 99 packets consistent with last year); staff did not reconcile those numbers on the record during the meeting.

Staffing and volunteers were raised: the county recently hired a driver named Kevin for a broker route; a Hillsborough driver resigned and the county is rehiring for a Hillsborough delivery position that runs Tuesday through Thursday. Staff emphasized ongoing volunteer needs at meal sites and for home-delivery routes and described a recent volunteer appreciation luncheon at which Sheriff Torgerson provided information to attendees.

Program planning for the county's three-year aging plan (2025'27) was discussed: staff included a goal to augment congregate meal participation by offering pop-up dining sites and special events countywide, and said the ADRC will provide attendees information about the annual Aging Advocacy Day in Madison.

Public feedback gathered for menu and service improvements included requests for softer foods and clearer menu descriptions (for example, whether a listed pork roast would be served as a whole piece, shredded, or sauced); some participants reported occasional dryness in roasted meats. Members of the group said recipients value small accommodations such as staff pouring coffee or water at congregate sites.

The meeting closed with scheduling: the next meeting was set for Aug. 25 at 2 p.m.

Ending: Staff will accept RFP proposals in mid-June and return the program procurement and emergency-meal recommendations to the Human Services Committee for consideration; staff did not present a final decision on emergency-meal purchases during this meeting.