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Senior center reports 123,772 meals served in 2024; fundraising increased and contract provider changed
Summary
Saline County Senior Services reported 31,698 meals served in the Oct.–Dec. 2024 quarter and 123,772 meals for the full year, detailed recent grants and donations, and reported a recent change in the food-service contractor.
Rosie Walter, senior services director, updated the Saline County commission on Oct.–Dec. 2024 activity on Jan. 21, reporting that the senior center served 31,698 meals during the quarter and a total of 123,772 meals in 2024.
Why it matters: The senior center provides meals and social services to homebound and congregate seniors; trends in service volume, contract costs and donations affect county budget exposure and program capacity.
Key points and figures
- Meals served: 31,698 in the Oct.–Dec. 2024 quarter; 123,772 meals total in 2024. Of the annual total, 115,551 meals (93%) were subsidized and 8,221 (7%) full-pay.
- Special days and programs: The center distributed 285 Christmas bags to homebound seniors with shelf-stable food and hygiene items; Veterans Day was held indoors due to rain with about 50 attendees; turkey-day service served 674 meals and a fried-chicken day served 676.
- Fundraising and grants: The center’s letter campaign raised $82,161 during the current campaign period (compared with $55,488 the prior year). The Earl Veil Foundation awarded $5,000 for Christmas Meals on Wheels and $20,000 for a new digital sign; the Veil Nesbitt Foundation awarded $9,000 for Christmas Meals on Wheels. The Dane Hansen Foundation awarded a $25,000 grant for garage and Ninth Street door repairs; the center currently lists $45,000 in building-grant/donation funds earmarked for improvements.
- Food-service contract: The county recently changed its food-service vendor: the Trinity contract began service on Dec. 30–31, with Trinity staff meeting the prior contractor’s kitchen manager to review equipment. Based on preliminary numbers to date, the new contract would have cost an estimated $511,526 for 11 months; under the prior contractor (Aladdin) the Jan.–Nov. cost was $610,758, implying a projected savings of $99,232 for the same period, though Walter said recent days have been “rocky” as Trinity stabilized operations.
- Donations and balances: The center reported donations brought in during 2024 (including grants) and a carryover balance; at one point staff reported a $61,094 balance in the donations account but cautioned that unpaid invoices to the prior contractor (Aladdin) may reduce that balance.
Details and follow-up
Walter said volunteers and county staff packed and delivered Christmas bags and the sheriff’s office assisted with deliveries. Staff noted some Meals on Wheels routes were disrupted by a winter storm and volunteers were unable to deliver for several days; emergency shelf-stable packages helped ensure recipients had food during those periods.
Ending
Commissioners praised the senior center’s work and asked questions about the vendor transition; Walter said the new contract is improving day by day but acknowledged initial difficulties.
