Boston committee reviews $2.56 million state grant for elder nutrition as federal funding falls

Erin Murphy, At-Large City Councilor and chair of the Boston City Council Committee on Strong Women, Families, and Communities, opened a March 10 hearing on docket 0393 about a proposed FY25 state grant of $2,563,236.28 to support the City’s elder nutrition program administered by the Age Strong Commission.

The grant, described as the FY25 State Elder Lunch Program award from the Executive Office of Aging and Independence, is one of three funding streams that support the city’s Meals on Wheels and congregate meal services. "This grant is state funding that comes to us," Melissa Carlson, senior director of programs and partnerships at the Age Strong Commission, said. Carlson explained the commission combines that state grant with federal funds and $300,000 in city funding to operate the program.

Why it matters: Boston’s elder nutrition program serves older adults through home-delivered meals and 44 congregate sites across the city, and program leaders warned that recent and anticipated federal funding cuts could…