Elderbridge asks Worth County for continued funding to sustain senior meals program

Representatives from Elderbridge told the Worth County Board of Supervisors on Monday that the agency needs continued county support to sustain congregate and home-delivered meal programs in Manly and Northwood.

"We're asking for $3.20 per senior for FY '26," the Elderbridge representative said, summarizing the county-specific funding request included in the materials provided to the board.

Nut graf: Elderbridge, the regional aging-services agency, said its local meal programs have lost roughly $1.2 million in COVID-era funding since 2024 and continues to rely on Older Americans Act funding, grants and local fundraising. The organization said those sources combined with county support keep kitchen operations running and allow on-site hot meals and home-delivered meals in the county.

Elderbridge's presentation noted the agency raised about $27,000 from a fundraising auction last year and secured $88,000 in grants specifically for meals. Staff also described a program to acquire shelf-stable emergency meals to ensure continued delivery during severe weather or short-term closures.

At the meeting a Northwood Senior Center representative described the partnership between the senior center and Northwood Meals on Wheels. "If we didn't have those funding sources, we couldn't keep the building open," the senior-center speaker said, adding that rent from the Meals on Wheels program and the annual county stipend are essential to keeping the meal site operational.

Board members thanked the presenters and said they would consider the FY 2026 request during upcoming budget deliberations. A supervisor noted the county is beginning winter budget work and that any appropriation would be considered in that process.

Ending: Elderbridge representatives left materials for the board outlining the per-senior request and a breakdown of services in Worth County; the board will consider the request as part of its FY 2026 budget process.