Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Senior Services Meals On Wheels topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Sawyer County HHS hears warning of major Meals on Wheels cut; approves DOT pass‑through grant
Summary
A senior services representative told the Sawyer County Health and Human Services committee that the state cut $21 million in Meals on Wheels funding for the next three years, and the committee approved a DOT pass‑through grant for the senior center.
A representative for the Sawyer County Senior Resource Center told the Sawyer County Health and Human Services committee on Oct. 7 that the state has cut $21,000,000 in Meals on Wheels funding for the next three years and described local steps to respond.
The center’s representative said the agency has launched local fundraising campaigns — an October “Spread the Sweetness of Love” meal drive and a November “Save Our Seniors” turkey‑themed campaign — after learning of the state reduction. The representative said the center has received about $4,000 in campaign donations to date and described service and staffing strains that could follow if additional funding is not found.
“The other campaign that I’ll talk about…we were told that the state of Wisconsin cut $21,000,000 for Meals on Wheels for the next 3 years,” the representative told the committee. She described possible service reductions at smaller sites, including moving to frozen meals or reducing dine‑in hours, and said staff would try to keep doors open even if funding falls short.
Committee members moved and carried a resolution authorizing Sawyer County to accept a Department of Transportation pass‑through grant for the senior center. At the meeting a county staff member described the grant as “$85.21” in the agenda and called it “almost an $80,000 grant” with a small local match; the committee approved the resolution by voice vote and will forward it to the county board.
Why it matters: Meals on Wheels and congregate meals are a core service for many homebound and medically fragile older residents; the committee heard that some routes include clients with dementia and dialysis needs. Committee members asked how county funding requests would affect services; the senior center representative said staff would change operations to continue service to residents who need it.
Supporting details: the senior center said it is starting an evidence‑based Diabetes Healthy Living class Oct. 16 (six‑week session, 12:30–3:00 p.m., eight people enrolled so far, capacity 16). The representative described recent technology and equipment replacements and said contribution letters had generated $48,000 on $101,000 solicited, Jan.–June of the current year.
The DOT pass‑through resolution was moved and seconded and approved by voice vote; committee staff said the item does not require a separate motion to forward to the county board and will be signed and forwarded as part of regular business.
The committee did not adopt any additional county funding changes at the meeting; the senior center representative urged continued local support and described contingency plans should state funding remain unavailable.
