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Local nonprofits seek county funds for rent assistance, Meals on Wheels and senior transportation
Summary
County nonprofits asked the commission for targeted allocations: CCAP requested $7,500 for emergency rent assistance, Meals on Wheels asked for $8,000 for equipment maintenance, and Senior Services outlined a request (stated as '70' in the record) to match transportation vehicle grants and cover operating needs.
Multiple nonprofit providers addressed the Berkeley County Commission requesting funding and describing expanded service needs.
A CCAP representative asked the commission to consider a $7,500 allocation to support emergency rental assistance that covers up to one month of rent (maximum $800) for households facing eviction; the speaker said such funding could help about 10–15 families and emphasized landlord cooperation — the program requires landlords to agree to keep tenants for at least 30 days after assistance.
Diane Waldron, director of Berkeley County Meals on Wheels, asked for $8,000 to maintain and repair kitchen equipment, citing rising maintenance costs (she said the program spent more than $24,000 in 2025 on maintenance and repairs). Waldron described the program’s scale (about 50 years of service, roughly 150 volunteers, about $7 per meal cost, and reliance on donated kitchen space at King’s Daughters Court) and noted that staff face growing demand.
Amy Orndorff, representing Berkeley County Senior Services, outlined a request recorded as “70” in the transcript (discussed as a funding request to match grants for transportation vehicles and expand caregiver respite services). Senior Services reported delivering nearly 50,000 meals in 2025 and running more than 11,000 transportation trips, and said funding uncertainty and staffing constraints remain significant concerns. Orndorff also noted the agency received employee retention credits that provide a temporary cushion for vehicle repairs and operations.
Commissioners voiced appreciation for the nonprofit services and discussed program specifics including eligibility rules, repeat-eligibility intervals (CCAP’s assistance is available once every five years), transportation vehicle matches (Senior Services must provide a 20% match for some grants), and the constraints presented by rising food and personnel costs.
Next steps: Commissioners thanked presenters and indicated funding requests would be considered as part of budget deliberations; no immediate appropriation was recorded at this meeting.
