Latest news with #PhilipGonzalez
CBS News
26-05-2025
- Health
- CBS News
Tarrant County Meals on Wheels continues delivering promises despite budget cuts
People who visit Meals on Wheels, Inc. of Tarrant County will quickly learn while the organization prioritizes delivering healthy meals to scores of homebound, elderly, disabled, and food-insecure clients across the region, their mission is also about building community. "No client is alike [and] most of them are all seniors, they're disabled, they're homebound…they all have that common need and that's to be fed," said Philip Gonzalez, marketing and communications manager, as he peered into the prep kitchen where many of the meals are made. Just weeks ago, the organization was facing a $450,000 budget cut that would have led to the possible suspension of several support services, though funding for home-delivered meals was reportedly not in jeopardy. "I'd hate to think what would happen to some of our clients if we weren't there to feed them," he added. While plans for those local cuts were later reversed, it reflects widespread concerns about rising costs and constant concerns that critical funding for Meals on Wheels could be on the chopping block. National leaders continue to advocate for more funding to support the critical needs of vulnerable populations. "[This] is a pivotal moment when we cannot leave America's seniors behind. It's time to invest in Meals on Wheels as a proven solution to senior hunger and isolation rather than put the health, well-being and independence of older Americans in jeopardy," said Ellie Hollander, president and CEO of Meals on Wheels. Meals on Wheels of Tarrant County said the generous help they receive from the community allows them to offer other important services in addition to meals, like safety checks and social connections for older adults even as the demand for their basic services increases. "We maximize every dollar, no matter where it comes from to try to feed as many people as possible, and through the help of this generous community we have never had a waiting list," said Alissa Denton, who was recently named as the new president and CEO for Tarrant County. "A whole year's worth of Meals on Wheels is less than one day at the hospital, so we know that the work that we're doing and providing helps people stay healthy and happy in their homes," said Deaton. In a recent interview with CBS News Texas, staff members said there is a growing need for more volunteers for a wide range of activities, including open meal delivery routes as the summer months roll in. Routing Coordinator Courtney Lynch pointed to a large area map on the wall in her office. "Every dot is someone that receives a meal across Tarrant County each day. There are 271 routes, there are roughly 4,000 clients a day that we deliver to," she said. Gonzalez said some of the organization's critical needs can be met through the help of a short volunteer commitment each week. "It's that sense of giving. It doesn't take long, and it doesn't take much to smile at somebody and to say, 'Hi, how are you?'," he said. "That means so much to them." Anyone interested in volunteering and delivering meals can click here.
Yahoo
07-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
State agency reverses Tarrant County Meals on Wheels funding cut
The Brief Tarrant County Meals on Wheels will no longer face $450,000 in funding cuts. The cut would have affected five programs that assisted the organization's clients. The Tarrant County operation is unsure why the cut was reversed by the state. TARRANT COUNTY, Texas - State Health and Human Services Department officials have reversed course on a $450,000 funding cut to Tarrant County Meals on Wheels. It would have cut five services, including a program called "Home Meds" that aimed to keep any harmful food or drug reactions among clients receiving meals at bay. Other services to be impacted would have included nutrition counseling, social reassurance, participant assessment and transportation. The new cut would have been in addition to a $1.6 million cut from October, as well as confusion caused by federal funding freezes earlier this year. Funding cut reversal What they're saying We spoke with Philip Gonzalez, a spokesperson for Tarrant County Meals on Wheels, about the reversal. "We really don't know the heart of why it happened, it just did," Gonzalez said. "But at the same time, we're glad whoever was in charge decided to say, 'hey, there's a lot of people going to be affected by this, and let's go ahead and restore it and make sure the seniors, especially here in Tarrant County, are taken care of.'" Gonzalez said the organization had no control over the potential loss of the funding, which he says would have affected multiple services, including wellness check-ins and client transportation to and from activity centers. "The transportation issue of getting all of our seniors to our activity centers where they can socialize and get that meal every day, specifically those two," Gonzalez said. "There were five total, but we were really concerned about all five. It would have been a tremendous setback." Why the change? The Tarrant County operation received communication on Monday from the Area Agency on Aging, the entity that disperses the federal funding which is funneled through the state. There's not much clarity about why federal funding was restored, but the notice does confirm the following: "They will proceed with the full release of FY2025 funding to ensure services continue without interruption […] While the exact timing of the funding release remains uncertain, we've been informed that more details will be available in the coming weeks." What you can do For information on how you can volunteer with Tarrant County Meals on Wheels, click here. The Source Information for this article comes from Tarrant County Meals on Wheels and the Area Agency on Aging.
CBS News
02-05-2025
- Health
- CBS News
Meals on Wheels Tarrant County navigating funding cuts, meals not impacted
Meals on Wheels Tarrant County is facing uncertainty after learning they will lose nearly half a million dollars in funding. While the daily delivery of meals —a crucial lifeline for seniors — will continue, other essential services will be impacted. CBS News Texas "These budget cuts are really going to affect a lot of seniors and disabled residents here in Tarrant County," said Philip Gonzalez with Meals on Wheels Tarrant County. The impacted ancillary services include a transportation program that provides rides to and from adult activity centers. Wellness checks and nutrition counseling programs are now halted, as is a program called HomeMeds, a medication safety program for seniors. "We know the impact that's had since we started the program, and it's kept a number of our clients from going to emergency rooms and having to go to the doctor and hospital visits," Gonzalez explained. "So it has saved taxpayers a lot of money in that regard as well." The Visiting Nurse Association runs the Meals on Wheels program in the Dallas area. They say they've received no notice of cuts in funding for their meals program — yet. "Yeah. This is new for sure," admitted Chris Culak with Visiting Nurse Association Texas. "And it's really almost every day you kind of have to watch and see, like tomorrow? Are things going to change a week from now?" CBS News Texas Although meal programs have so far been spared from the budget-cutting axe, advocates admit that the climate of cost-cutting, seemingly without regard for consequences, has them worried. "And a big, big challenge for meals programs is how do you sort of create your budgets," pondered Culak, "and how do you look to the future, and how do you really make sure that we're feeding the clients that deserve to have a meal?" The Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) is tasked with administering the federal funds. For now, advocates say they are relieved that there have been no funding cuts targeting meal deliveries. They're asking supporters to reach out to their state and federal elected officials to share their concerns about the budget cuts targeting the ancillary services and to reaffirm their support for Meals on Wheels. "We've always got to look to the future," said Gonzalez. "And right now, the future sees us continuing to deliver the meals every day to our clients that we serve."
