Meals on Wheels Federal Cut Backs
By: Rae Patterson
Updated: February 25, 2013
JOPLIN, MO.--- A series of federal budget cuts scheduled to kick in on March 1st could have a negative impact on a local meals program for senior citizens. If President Obama and congress can't agree to stop the cuts, organizations like the Area Agency on Aging in Joplin will be forced to make changes, including cuts to Meals on Wheels.
Executive Director Stan Heater says he's trying to minimize the impact to their clients, while advocating to reinstate funding."Tell the government that these new people that are coming onto the meals program or that want to come onto the meals program, there's a reason that they need that service. So we just want to be able to serve everybody that we can."
He adds if budget cuts do take effect in March, it's a loss of more than 12,000 meals a year in the four county area.
Executive Director Stan Heater says he's trying to minimize the impact to their clients, while advocating to reinstate funding."Tell the government that these new people that are coming onto the meals program or that want to come onto the meals program, there's a reason that they need that service. So we just want to be able to serve everybody that we can."
He adds if budget cuts do take effect in March, it's a loss of more than 12,000 meals a year in the four county area.
