Concern grows for possible ending to Kansas meal program serving seniors

HUTCHINSON, Kan. (KWCH) - More reaction follows this week’s news that a meal program for seniors could be in jeopardy. After 52 years, the South Central Kansas Area Agency on Aging (SCKAAA) is cutting ties with Everfull, the organization that runs meal programs, including Meals on Wheels.

In Hutchinson, places like Friendship Meals are hearing the news that their meals program could end in a few weeks and seniors who depend on the program say they feel angry and scared for the future.

Like Meals on Wheels, Friendship Meals provides food for seniors who find it difficult to cook for themselves. The program offers balanced, nutritious meals to ensure that people with conditions like diabetes are eating well. It also provides social interaction for seniors who live alone.

Among those benefiting from Friendship Meals is Jacque Roberts, a Hutchinson woman who said she never saw herself relying on such a program until she broke her hip in January. She also has diabetes and said Friendship Meals was just what she needed.

The prospect of the program ending has her fearing for her health without the balanced, more nutritional meals prepared for her.

On Thursday, the state announced an emergency grant of $100,000 to ensure that seniors can continue receiving meals. Currently, details of how soon the funds will be available aren’t known.

In an official statement on Thursday, the South Central Kansas Area Agency on Aging said Everfull lost the contract based on two issues: their untimely utilization of money allocated for the meals and delinquent audits by Everfull.

The grant from the state has been given to the area agency, which now bears the responsibility of deciding where the money goes.

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