19 Jun Emergency Funding Secures Meals for county Seniors
Recent online discussions have raised concerns about the future of Meals on Wheels and Friendship Meals programs provided by Everfull in several Kansas counties, including McPherson County. The South Central Kansas Area Agency on Aging (SCKAAA) has officially canceled its contract with Everfull, ending the provider’s services in 10 counties as of June 30.
In McPherson County, only two meal programs will be directly affected: the Lindsborg Senior Center and the grab-and-go meals distributed through Journey Church in McPherson. Programs like Meals on Wheel of McPherson will be unaffected by this change.
According to Terry Bolte, director of the McPherson County Council on Aging, there are plans in place to continue services after the contract ends. The Kansas Department for Aging and Disability Services (KDADS) has awarded SCKAAA a $100,000 emergency grant to help maintain senior food service operations like those at the Lindsborg Senior Center.
In a press release, KDADS stated the emergency funding was authorized after Everfull notified the agency it could no longer meet its contractual obligations due to unexpected financial difficulties.
“Nutritious meals are a lifeline for many of our seniors, supporting both their health and independence,” said KDADS Secretary Laura Howard. “This emergency grant allows SCKAAA to respond quickly to maintain essential meal services while a long-term solution is developed.”
Additional food services remain available in McPherson County. Through an initiative by the McPherson County Community Foundation’s Community Coalition, a permanent online database of local services has been created. The resource lists 31 food service options available across the county.