Uncertainty has arrived again for the state’s Senior Meals program.
Locally, the program is administered by the Gateway Area Development District. Congregate meals are served at the Montgomery County Senior Citizens Center on East Locust Street, but the program also provides meals through MotorMeals food trucks and home-delivered meals to some seniors. In anticipation of a funding shortfall for the Senior Citizens Program in fiscal year 2027, the GADD board of directors approved a budget that included cost-saving measures, including the indefinite suspension of the MotorMeals food truck program, GADD Executive Director Josh Farrow told the Advocate. It is effective Aug 1.
In a release this week, the GADD said MotorMeals participants are encouraged to enjoy lunch and fellowship at their local senior center. Those who are unable to attend may qualify for home delivered meals.
To learn more, the release encourages you to contact GADD’s Aging and Disability Resource Center at 855-882-5307.
Since its launch in 2023, MotorMeals, a mobile food truck that travels to a different community and county each weekday, has delivered more than 14,000 hot, nutritious meals to older adults throughout Montgomery, Bath, Menifee, Morgan and Rowan counties. Beyond providing meals, the program has created meaningful opportunities for connection and outreach to senior across the Gateway region, a release said.
The impact to the Senior Meals program, however, could go deeper, officials say.
“At this time, we do not know the full extent of any additional program or service reductions that may be necessary,” Farrow said.
“As GADD evaluates available options, our goal is to make thoughtful and fiscally responsible decisions that have the least possible impact on seniors we serve and on our employees while maintaining essential services throughout he region.”
One possibility discussed during a recent Fiscal Court workshop was reducing the number of congregate meals at the Montgomery County Senior Citizens Center from five to four.
Judge-Executive Chris Haddix issued a statement to the Advocate concerning the announcement.
“I was disappointed to learn that the senior meals were not fully funded for this fiscal year,” Haddix said. “The GADD board of directors did take action to address the funding challenge in hopes that if action was taken now, it may minimize any cuts that have to be made later in the fiscal year.
“MotorMeals is a wonderful program, providing hot meals to seniors in communities throughout Montgomery County every Wednesday, and we are proud of the impact it has made,” he added. “Suspending the program was not an easy decision, but it was one made with the goal of preserving as many core senior services as possible. Throughout this process, our focus has been on making decisions that have the least possible impact on both the seniors we serve and our employees.”
Other programs remain untouched for the time being.
“At this time, essential services remain unchanged. Home-delivered meals for homebound seniors continue without interruption, ensuring that those who rely on this service continue to receive nutritious meals,” Haddix said.
“Both Montgomery County Fiscal Court and the City of Mt. Sterling have invested in our senior center program for many years, which has helped us expand services and prevent local seniors from being placed on a waiting list,” he added. “This partnership has made a meaningful difference in the lives of many older adults in our community.”
Mt. Sterling Mayor Al Botts said the decision was not made lightly, but that to preserve money for other senior meal programs this course of action seemed to be the best available at this time.
"Due to a large funding shortfall, the Gateway Area Development District Board of Directors had to make the very difficult decision to suspend the MotorMeals program.," Botts told the Advocate.
He stressed that participants in the MotorMeals program will still be able to obtain a meal through one of the local senior centers.
"MotorMeals was available in Montgomery County once a week, and was very convenient meal option for our seniors. That meal will still be available, but will now have to be picked up at our local center. If the state does not find further funding, the Board of Directors may have to make other changes to meal programs in the future. The City of Mount Sterling is committed to help our senior citizen center meal programs as much as our budget allows. We should know more information in the coming weeks about the total shortfalls and look to find solutions to help take care of our seniors," Botts said.
June 30, the GADD received its current year Aging program allocations from the Dept. of Aging and Independent Living, Farrow said. Over the coming weeks, Farrow said GADD’s Finance Office will finalize the Aging program budgets and develop financial projections.
Once that process is complete, Farrow said the GADD will meet with its board members to review projected impacts and discuss potential recommendations on a county-by-county basis. The GADD expects to have a working plan and recommendations by its board by the end of July, he said.
More info, including stats/funding history, at www.msadvocate.com.
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