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Jackson County approves purchase of Meals on Wheels van; Department on Aging reports program growth
Summary
Jackson County commissioners approved purchase of a replacement Meals on Wheels van after a Friends of Jackson Seniors donation; Department on Aging staff reported increased demand across programs and grant transfers to meet home-delivered meal needs.
Jackson County commissioners approved purchase of a replacement Meals on Wheels delivery van and received a regular program report from Department on Aging staff during the committee meeting.
Department on Aging staff member Danielle Paquette told the committee the county received a donation from Friends of Jackson Seniors and can buy a new vehicle priced at $40,496 to replace a 2014 van with 128,726 miles. Commissioners moved to approve the purchase and, after a voice vote, the motion carried.
Paquette said the old vehicle had required about $17,000 in repairs over the years and that the new van will support the agency’s ongoing home-delivery mission. She thanked the donor group and described Friends of Jackson Seniors as a nine-member board that meets at the department and raises event-driven funds for senior services.
Paquette also reviewed Department on Aging activities and grants. She reported the agency aims to operate a 16-vehicle fleet (14 in use on a typical day plus two spares for repairs), is planning staff training on Oct. 30, and is preparing for the 2026 “Soups On for Seniors” fundraising event (scheduled for March 10, 2026). She said early sponsorships have already raised more than $8,000 and that the friends group will again run a live-auction item that previously generated about $3,000.
On grant management, Paquette described a recent transfer of federal funds within a WellWise Services grant: $81,000 moved from congregate meal funding to home-delivered meals to meet higher demand among homebound elders. She also recapped recent outreach and program metrics: 49 people attended a fall-prevention session; 27 attended a senior safety seminar on fraud and scams; and 59 people used a community shred day. Paquette credited volunteer and corporate partners for recent emergency-meal packing efforts and noted another packing day planned with Dawn Foods.
The department’s report was received by motion and unanimous voice vote.
Ending — The Department on Aging will proceed with the van purchase to support home-delivered meals and will return with routine program updates; commissioners also approved the department’s fiscal and program actions as described.
