3 days ago
Ten counties could lose Meals on Wheels programs
WICHITA, Kan. (KSNW) — Elk County is one of ten counties that could lose access to Meals on Wheels and Friendship Meal programs come July.
Those programs provide vital food and check-ins for vulnerable homebound seniors.
The potential loss is impacting people in Howard, a small town in Elk County.
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Three years ago, Kate Raber was diagnosed with dementia. That's about the same time her family got her started on friendship meals. 'She needs a good solid, at least one solid meal a day,' said Gleneva Winn, Raber's sister. Kate also needs someone to check in on her. It's volunteer Jean Parsons who does it.
'This is my happiness, really. I just get attached to everybody,' Parsons said. 'The good Lord wants me to help people, so I'm helping people.'
Parsons drives around every day, hand-delivering more than a dozen meals to seniors.
'You're in and out talking to people and checking on people, which is what I like,' Parsons said. 'To know that they're well.'
Parsons is a lifeline to the outside world, helping seniors stuck inside their homes access the needed services.
'One of the biggest concerns is how many elderly and disabled residents fall through the cracks if we lost this program, because they don't like reaching out or asking for help and they're not being checked on regularly except through our volunteers who are delivering the meal,' said Brandi Mast, associate director of the Elk County Community Foundation.
The Elk County Community Foundation is trying to find ways to keep the program going. Regardless, it's a scramble.
'I hope and pray that we do not lose friendship meals, that's just it,' Winn said. 'It's important.'
If things don't work out, vulnerable seniors will be the ones to pay the price.
The Elk County Community Foundation is looking at ways to get friendship meals funded locally. Everfull did not give KSN an interview, but did say they were depending on either more donations or help from the state to move forward.
There are some existing food programs from the Elk County Community Foundation.
The Feed Elk County Fund was established to help expand access to food.
'Anyone can donate to it, and what it's used for is to help purchase food for the give-and-take food boxes we've been working on establishing throughout the county,' Mast said. 'Moline and Granola have theirs up and running already.'
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