Starting this week, the C.E.F.S Golden Circle Nutrition Program will reduce the number of days they deliver meals to senior citizens. About 40 to 46 percent of the Nutrition Program's budget comes from the state. The program has been without funding since October because of the state budget impasse. Currently, meals can still be delivered because of local cash raised over the years and with money from the federal government. Golden Circle Nutrition Program Project Director Debbie Weber says they will no longer be delivering meals on Fridays.
"It's really a shame because... not only do they receive the hot, nourishing meal but they receive a daily check on. We've had volunteers that have found people that have fallen and couldn't get up until that volunteer driver was there to help them and sometimes it's the only link to the outside world that person has during the day. So it's a two-fold for these home bound seniors - they're not going to get a meal and they're not going to get a daily check on, because we cannot come together on the state level and put a budget in place. Even if we would receive a cut at least we would know where to go forward to. Right now, we can't do anything because you can't spend money you don't have or you're not sure you're going to get.
If there is still no budget passed by February 1st, the Nutrition Program will reduce to three meals a week. Weber says an anonymous donor in Litchfield made it possible to keep delivering meals there on Friday.
It's a gentleman himself, it's not a business, it's a local person that's going to pick up that fifth day until the state budget is put in place. So, kudos to him wanting to make a difference in the lives of seniors. So many times, that generation of people have been forgotten and they're the generation who have helped build all our communities and it's very easy to forget them because, you know, 'out of sight, out of mind'.
Weber says they still need monetary help with meals in Witt, Raymond and Hillsboro. She says they need approximately $360 a week to cover meals on Fridays in those areas. For information on how to help the C.E.F.S Golden Circle Nutrition Program, contact Debbie Weber at (217) 342-2193 extension 119 or here's a list of numbers for local nutrition sites: Golden Circle Nutrition Program ContactsThomack 12/3/15
