Madison senior center warns Meals on Wheels endowment nearly depleted; board to consider Madison Foundation agreement

Madison’s senior center told the Select Board that the endowment used to subsidize the town’s Meals on Wheels program is nearly spent and that the program now covers roughly 80% of its costs with recipient contributions and donations.

"We do approximately 11,000 meals a year," Austin of the senior center said, adding the program delivers about 60 meals a day and relies on nearly 100 volunteer drivers who also perform wellness checks during deliveries. "The recipients contribute about 17% of the cost," Austin said, while the remainder has historically been covered by a Marcus endowment and occasional community donations, funds that are running low.

Board members discussed a draft agreement to route private, tax‑deductible donations through the Madison Foundation to a designated Meals on Wheels fund. Under the proposed arrangement the senior center would continue to operate the program; donations given through the foundation would be disbursed to the senior center on a regular schedule to support meal production and program needs.

Supporters said the arrangement could broaden private giving and make donations tax deductible for donors, while the senior center and the board continue to explore long‑term budget options to sustain the service if private fundraising does not meet demand. The board agreed to bring a finalized agreement back for formal approval at a future meeting.

What’s next: The draft Madison Foundation agreement will be revised based on comments and returned to the board for final approval; the senior center and staff will also continue to present budget options during the 2025/26 budget process.