Funding held for Elderly

[dkemom2]

This is not specifically Chathamcentric but it IS.  Please find some room in your budget to donate food/funds to Meals on Wheels and the Council on Aging food pantry.    I am told the food goes out as quickly as it comes in.
Maybe someone reading the BB has details on how this will directly affect Chatham.
 We have a lot of elderly in our county who are going to be hurt by the rising food prices and cuts in assistance.   Maybe instead of one more Christmas present for the kids or grandkids who already have everything, we give that money instead to feed some of our elderly neighbors?  I'm in, how about you?


State slices funds for elderly
Meals and health care take a hit
THOMAS GOLDSMITH, Staff Writer

http://www.newsobserver.com/politics/story/1288821.html

Hard-won state funding for Meals on Wheels and other programs vital to older and disabled people is being withheld to the tune of $2 million to meet state budget-trimming goals, social services officials said.
The programs are the main source for a range of services -- including home-delivered meals and in-home aides -- that often help older people stay at home and out of more costly, tax-funded nursing homes and assisted living centers.

Advocates for older people had hailed a $2 million increase voted by legislators in July as a success of the last legislative session. But now they're expressing disappointment that the increase is being withheld as part of an overall belt-tightening by state officials who face falling revenues because of the declining economy.

"I am very dismayed," said Gail Holden, director of adult services for Wake County Human Services. "I was hoping that we would continue to see increases. It seems like we take from our most vulnerable citizens."

"Private contributions are not increasing, either, but the demand keeps rising, especially in tough economic times," Winstead said.

Dennis Streets, director of the Division of Aging and Adult Services, which funnels the money to local agencies for distribution, said rising food and fuel costs mean that funding increases are needed just to keep serving the same number of clients


In addition to home-delivered meals, the affected services pay for care like that at Central Orange Adult Day Health Center in Hillsborough, where older adults with medical needs can spend their days.
[/b


FUNDING SOURCE
State and federal funding for Meals on Wheels and many other services for older people comes through the state's Home and Community Care Block Grant. Set up in 1992, the program consolidates money from different sources and gives counties decision-making power on how it's spent.

Some of the programs include:

* Home-delivered meals;

* In-home aides;

* Congregate meals, provided at places such as senior centers;

* Transportation;

* Senior center operations;

* Adult day care centers;

* Adult day health-care centers;

* Housing and home improvement.

For more information:

www.tjaaa.org www.dhhs.state.nc.us/aging/service.htm

TRIANGLE J AREA AGENCY ON AGING, N.C. DIVISION OF AGING AND ADULT SERVICES.

[Turtle]

I'm in, too. If it isn't posted here soon, I'll call the COA and see what we can do. Fortunately (or is it unfortunately) all of my grandchildren have plenty. I plan to involve them in whatever we can do. They enjoy things like that and it's "good" for them.

[dkemom2]

I know that Council on Aging and CORA will take any food stuffs just about any day of the week (m-f)

COA would like pasta, pasta sauce, peanut butter, canned tuna, canned veggies and soup.

Anyone else with thoughts on how to help, please post.

[db]

CORA is open M-F 10-2 and can take donations during that time. earlier this year I volunteered there for 2 days.  While I was there I learned that while all foodstuffs are welcome and used in one way or another, they specifically give out the following, when available, to all recipients, so these are particularly needed:

canned tuna (5oz can) or salmon (14oz cans)
canned condensed soups (the 10.5-10.75oz cans)
canned fruit (16oz cans)
dried beans (1# packages)
canned beans and other vegetables (16 oz cans)
pasta
dried milk or shelf stable milk
peanut butter (18oz jars)
oats
quick grits (they distribute the size in a box, not a big bag)
tortilla flour
corn meal
Baking mix (Jiffy or Bisquick in a box)
Cake mixes and canned frosting (they keep a birthday closet in case a family has a child that is having a birthday so that they can make a cake)

I'm sure I'm forgetting something, but I thought this would be a handy start

[piper_chuck]

I was curious how one would find these, if they didn't know.  The following links should help:
http://www.corafoodpantry.org/
http://www.chathamcouncilonaging.org/

[piper_chuck]

Anyone else with thoughts on how to help, please post.

Tomorrow is Veterans day and kids are out of school.  So, here's an idea for all those with kids in school and who can free up some time tomorrow.  Take your child to the store, give them a $ goal, and have them select stuff from the wish list for either of these agencies until they reach the $ goal.  Purchase the stuff and bring your child to the agency to deliver it.  Since many older people are veterans or were married to a veteran, delivering a donation tomorrow will have special meaning.  One could do something similar at one of the local senior centers, assuming they're setup to take donations. 

[db]

Great idea piper!!

[Turtle]

Sure is a good idea, Piper_Chuck. I just called to make arrangements to get the grandchildren. Now, why didn't I think of that?

[piper_chuck]

I know that Council on Aging and CORA will take any food stuffs just about any day of the week (m-f)

COA would like pasta, pasta sauce, peanut butter, canned tuna, canned veggies and soup.

In looking at the websites of the two organizations, I've decided I'd prefer to give to the COA.  I'll probably be going sometime between 12:30 and 2 with my 5 year old daughter.

Does anyone know if there are more things on their list?  Also, to donate do we just bring stuff to one of the two centers? 

[natvrabit]

It bothers me that meals on wheels will suffer. This is focused on shut in's. They really count on this ONE hot meal a day. Our Chatham COA does a wonderful job as does CORA.

[piper_chuck]

I know that Council on Aging and CORA will take any food stuffs just about any day of the week (m-f)

COA would like pasta, pasta sauce, peanut butter, canned tuna, canned veggies and soup.

In looking at the websites of the two organizations, I've decided I'd prefer to give to the COA.  I'll probably be going sometime between 12:30 and 2 with my 5 year old daughter.

Does anyone know if there are more things on their list?  Also, to donate do we just bring stuff to one of the two centers? 

Well, so much for that plan.  I was looking for some information on the COA web site and I came across the calendar.  It says they're closed tomorrow.

[piper_chuck]

I know that Council on Aging and CORA will take any food stuffs just about any day of the week (m-f)

COA would like pasta, pasta sauce, peanut butter, canned tuna, canned veggies and soup.

In looking at the websites of the two organizations, I've decided I'd prefer to give to the COA.  I'll probably be going sometime between 12:30 and 2 with my 5 year old daughter.

Does anyone know if there are more things on their list?  Also, to donate do we just bring stuff to one of the two centers? 

Well, so much for that plan.  I was looking for some information on the COA web site and I came across the calendar.  It says they're closed tomorrow.

Mission accomplished.  COA was closed, but we swung by there anyway.  We met Angel outside and she took our donation.

[dkemom2]

Angel is great and how I got involved with this.

Nice job Chuck.

Let's remind each other through out the year to keep doing this.  I think it really gets desperate for them in the summer also.

[NHSParent]

During the summer the kids also suffer, no hot lunches from schools.

[piper_chuck]

Angel is great and how I got involved with this.

Nice job Chuck.

Let's remind each other through out the year to keep doing this.  I think it really gets desperate for them in the summer also.

She was curious how I heard about the funding cut.  I told her about your posting here. 

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