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Fairfield County Council hears plea to shore up weekend meals for seniors after program runs out of funds
Summary
The Council on Aging told the Fairfield County Council that the weekend Meals on Wheels program has exhausted funds; the agency asked the council for up to $66,000 to continue service through June and outlined a short-term plan to prioritize the most vulnerable seniors.
Angie Connor Brewer, executive director of the Fairfield County Council on Aging, told the county council on Jan. 13 that the weekend Meals on Wheels program established during the COVID pandemic has exhausted its funds and that clients were notified Jan. 17 that weekend deliveries would stop.
"The funds have simply been exhausted," Brewer said, describing the program’s origin as a community response during COVID and noting it was never intended to be funded by federal or state sources. Brewer said the agency requested $226,000 in the previous budget cycle; $84,572 was allocated by the county. She said the program needs approximately $66,000 to continue weekend service through June 30 for the full caseload or $33,000 to maintain deliveries for the 76 most-needy clients, and that the organization had secured $22,000 toward that goal.
The request prompted several public comments and council discussion. Donita Harris and Shirley Green urged council members to prioritize seniors and other vulnerable residents. Randy Bright and others linked the issue to broader concerns about county leadership and economic opportunity.
On the procedural side, a council member asked whether unused budgeted funds—specifically money set aside for a part-time veterinary position—could be repurposed. County staff said reallocating funds would require a budget amendment and that the council could choose to reallocate if it wished; staff also said they were reviewing applicants for the veterinary position and would report back on actual savings if the position were filled differently.
Brewer and public commenters asked area businesses, private donors and county government for immediate assistance while the council considers options. The Council on Aging said it had already notified 147 enrolled clients that weekend meals would end on Jan. 17 unless additional funding was secured.
The council did not take a formal vote to allocate funds at the meeting. Council members directed staff to share budget details and consider whether a short-term reallocation could cover the most urgent needs; staff said they would provide requested clarifications to the council.
