Chambers County public-health leaders asked the Commissioners Court on Dec. 23, 2025 to help sustain a home-delivered meals program after federal-level funding fell back to pre-COVID levels, creating a significant shortfall.

Andy Legg, chairman of the board for Chambers County Public Hospital District No. 1, said the district took over the program post-COVID and later learned the funding it had relied on was at a temporary, higher COVID-era level. "When we found out we're going to pre COVID level funding, well, we took it over kind of post COVID, so we weren't really aware of that," Legg said, describing why the district now faces a gap. He told the court the district is seeking partnerships and other revenue, including support from neighboring entities.

Elisa Blofgren, executive director for Chambers Health, said the district inherited a small program of 39 clients and has expanded it to 142. "We've grown it to 142 people," she said. Blofgren described operations: deliveries provide five meals a week (delivered on Thursdays), and four staff manage deliveries plus two additional weekly check-ins (one in-person visit and two follow-up contacts). She said the district's request of the court is solely to fund meals, not staffing.

Meeting speakers described several numbers and funding items with some variation in phrasing: an earlier reference in the record described an initial cut of roughly $60,000 from HDAC (as stated in the transcript), and another speaker summarized a total shortfall of about $141,000. The district asked the court to consider a $100,000 county contribution to bridge the gap while it pursues other sources, including approaches to the Winnie Hospital District, Mont Belvieu municipal leaders, and grant opportunities. One court speaker emphasized that those outside sources were "not guaranteed."

Court members discussed fiscal safeguards: a commissioner suggested any county contribution be placed in a separate account and tracked by the county auditor. Several speakers voiced support for sustaining the program and for returning to the court if additional funding is still needed. The provided segment does not record a formal vote on the county funding request.