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Meals for the Elderly says program serves about 600 homebound seniors daily, seeks continued county support
Summary
Norma Deatsley told the commissioners the Meals for the Elderly program serves roughly 600 homebound seniors each day, relies on community grants and a county TDA allocation that is matched by the state, and has added nutrition and safety supports such as milk and smoke detectors.
Norma Deatsley, representing Meals for the Elderly, told the Tom Green County commissioners the nonprofit has been operating in the community for more than five decades and now delivers hot meals to roughly 600 homebound seniors each day. She said the program receives community donations, grant revenue and a line-item in the county’s TDA budget; the TDA allocation has historically been about $6,425 and was higher—about $7,500—last year, which Deatsley said “was really helpful.”
Deatsley outlined additions to the program intended to improve recipients’ health and safety: dietitian-prepared menus, an added milk supplement after detecting widespread vitamin D deficiency, pet-food packages, incontinence assistance, and a fire-safety effort to distribute and, where needed, install smoke detectors. She said volunteers and a small paid staff keep overhead low even as food and packaging costs have risen; she reported meal preparation costs increased from roughly $6 to about $8.90 per meal over two years. “We are 52 years strong in our community,” Deatsley said, urging commissioners to secure the program’s place in next year’s budget so it can continue those services.
The presentation prompted appreciation from the bench and no formal action; commissioners asked only clarifying questions about delivery locations and volunteer capacity. Deatsley encouraged any commissioner or county staff who had questions to contact her for more detail or to join a delivery run.
