Meals On Wheels Face Hard Choices With Funding Cut

HYATTSVILLE, Md. (AP) -- Budget cuts from Congress are forcing some Meals on Wheels providers to slash programs for seniors or shut down completely.

In Hyattsville, First United Methodist Church has been delivering 10 meals a day to homebound seniors for the past 30 years. But the church tells The Washington Post its funding has been cut so much, it will have to stop.

Meals on Wheels programs receive money through the Older Americans Act. State governments divvy up funds to local agencies. The providers typically serve two hand-delivered meals daily.

According to March estimates, the cuts from Congress will reduce funding by 5 percent for Meals on Wheels in Maryland, Virginia and the District of Columbia.

The church in Hyattsville was cut from receiving $1,200 per quarter to $1,100 for the year.

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