Although President Trump's budget cut proposal serves as a wakeup call to senior programs, like Meals on Wheels, 41 Action News found one local chapter that won’t let budget cuts stop them.
Previous story: KC metro programs for struggling families, elderly on the chopping block
Meals on Wheels of Lee’s Summit feeds 60 seniors.
DeAun Russell, a past Meals on Wheels Board President, said volunteers and donations have been essential to the organization’s 43-year existence.
"We have Monday through Friday -- the days we deliver. We have deliverers for each of those days. So approximately 10 deliverers per day and then support staff that manage accounts and the routes and answer the phones," she said.
That equals about 70 volunteers.
A typical day starts in the morning when staff and volunteers at Lee's Summit Medical Center prepare lunch in the cafeteria's kitchen.
They do that through a special agreement with the hospital. Drivers then pick up the hot trays to be able to deliver them by lunchtime.
Most clients are able to pay for the meal service, but some clients require some form of subsidy. That’s the potential concern with a proposed budget cut to senior services.
“Well, I think anytime there's cuts within the government, that is kind of a trickle down," Russell said.
For now, the volunteer group will continue to pick up and deliver meals and plan their next fundraiser.
"Lee's Summit has a strong community and we rely on the people of Lee's Summit to help us with getting these people fed every day," she said.
If you’d like to volunteer or make a donation, click here.
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Jane Monreal can be reached at JANE.MONREAL@KSHB.com.
