Commissioners take steps in assisting Meals on Wheels
Published 8:55 am Wednesday, October 5, 2016
By Dawn Burleigh
dawn.burleigh@orangeleader.com
Linda Hughes, director of Meals on Wheels, asked Orange County Commissioners Court for help in August of this year to help the struggling program. Monday morning, the court approved a resolution, which certifies Orange County has contributed to a Home-Delivered Meal Grant Program.
Hughes was not in attendance of the resolution due to the timing of the meeting.
“They are out delivering meals,” Orange County Judge Stephen ‘Brint’ Carlton said. “This resolution will allow them to apply for Texas grants.”
Cuts to grants and other funding led to the program having difficulty meeting the needs.
As a result of Hughes request for help from the county, Sabine River Ford and First Financial Bank hosted Lunch on the Lot at Sabine River Ford to help raise funds to help the struggling organization. Other civic organizations also made donations to help the program stay in Orange.
The program covers seniors in the city limits as well as in Little Cypress and Pinehurst. Not only do they deliver meals but they also offer transportation to seniors.
Understaffing has to helped and the financial struggles were preventing the hiring of new personal. A
The program has been in operation in Orange County for 50 years.
A resolution authorizing the county grant will allow the program to apply for grant funds from the Texas Department of Agriculture to supplement and extend existing services for homebound persons in the county who are elderly and/or have a disability.
The county certifies it has made a grant to Orange County Action Association in the amount of $40,000.
The court is expected to transfer four vans to the program as well. The agenda item was tabled for this week due to the county attorney was unable to be present during the meeting.
“It is on the agenda due to being an official transfer of county property,” Carlton said.
Anyone interested in volunteering with the Orange County Action Association Meals on Wheels can visit the Senior Center located at 103 5th Street in Orange.
