Meals on Wheels reports 33,000 home-delivered meals in 2024; asks county to sustain support

Meals on Wheels of Amador County told the Board of Supervisors on Feb. 25 that it delivered 33,207 hot meals to homebound older adults in calendar year 2024 and expanded services to include limited nonemergency medical transportation.

The presentation, given by Chris Kelton, executive director of the Amador Senior Center, outlined the program’s operations, volunteer contribution and recent program additions, and requested that county officials maintain local funding as federal support faces uncertainty.

Kelton said Meals on Wheels provides a hot prepared meal five days a week, asks a suggested $5 participant contribution per meal, and does not refuse service for inability to pay. He said a bulk of the program’s funding comes from the California Department of Aging through Area 12 Agency on Aging, and that Amador County also contributes funding.

“The daily delivery is more than food,” Kelton said. “It’s a welfare check and a social connection for homebound older adults. Many clients tell us seeing the driver is the highlight of their day.”

Nut graf: The program reported high demand and growing costs: volunteers logged 833 hours worth an estimated $13,332 in labor value at 2024 minimum wage, and a January survey included in the packet found many clients said the economy increased their need for meals. Kelton asked supervisors to consider sustaining county funding as federal proposals could reduce aid to nonprofits that serve vulnerable residents.

Supporting details: Kelton described three service additions in 2024: a pet support program that delivers pet food and helps with veterinary needs, a friendly-visitors program that matches volunteers for deeper check-ins, and an October 2024 launch of a nonemergency medical-transport program that provides local rides to medical appointments within Amador County (requests require two weeks’ notice).

Board response and public comment: Supervisors thanked Kelton and several members of the public praised the program during public comment. Resident Mike Jones called Meals on Wheels “a perfect example” of a program that serves vulnerable residents and urged continued funding. Supervisor Annette praised the program’s work.

Ending: Kelton invited supervisors to visit the center for lunch to see the program firsthand and offered to meet individually to review services and referral pathways for constituents.