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Board signals support for $71,000 ARPA-interest pilot to restore seniors meal deliveries
Summary
A group of board members expressed support for a $71,000 pilot to restart a county senior meals distribution program with operational help from the sheriff's office; members sought consensus to pursue staff action and possible action at a future meeting.
Several DuPage County Board members signaled support on April 22 for a proposed $71,000 pilot to restore a senior meals distribution program formerly run by the Senior Citizens Council, with delivery help from the sheriff's office.
Member Zay, a County Board member, outlined the proposal and said the sheriff's office has agreed to assist with deliveries and to tighten eligibility rules for recipients. "It's $71,000 kinda as a pilot program," Zay said, noting the request would be funded from ARPA interest and that the program would be limited at first to a single monthly distribution with tighter age and income thresholds.
Board members who discussed the idea said the county previously funded the Senior Citizens Council operations and that new oversight and tighter eligibility were needed. Member Dysart, a County Board member, asked about the per-box cost and was told a box holds five packaged meals for $29.50 each (five meals per box), which she said made the cost reasonable for the pilot.
Member Ozog, a County Board member, asked that the sheriff's office note the county board's participation and circulate event notices to members in advance so board members could take part in distributions. Member Swartz and Member Garcia said they had met with the Senior Citizens Council and the sheriff's office and supported funding the program as a stop-gap while the county continues other food-security work.
Member Zay asked for a board consensus to direct staff to work with the sheriff's office and the senior services partner and to return with a formal item; the chair and multiple members indicated support for advancing the proposal to staff for formal consideration at a later meeting.
Ending: The board did not immediately appropriate funds in the April 22 meeting but expressed consensus to pursue the pilot with county staff and the sheriff's office, who will return with a formal funding item for board consideration.
