Donations keep senior meals program going

A surge of donations in the past few weeks will help a local senior nutrition program stay open through Dec. 20.

Whether it can operate for the remainder of the month is still in question.

"We're still feeling uncomfort-able, but at least we can go for another week," said Jerry Baldoz, director of Senior Nutrition/Meals on Wheels of Yakima County.

Last month, Baldoz said financial struggles would cause the program to close its 14 meal sites across the Yakima Valley for the last two weeks of December -- unless an additional $16,000 to $20,000 was raised.

Many responded to the call for help. The city of Yakima donated $10,000, while individual donations topped $4,150. Holtzinger Fruit Co. of Yakima contributed by paying for commercials aired on KAPP-TV, urging residents to donate.

United Way of Yakima County is considering giving $7,500 to the program, but a decision won't be
made until the board meets Dec.
16, said Tim Sullivan, the organiza-tion's community investment director.

Baldoz said he's thrilled with all the help he's received so far, and credits Sen. Curtis King, R-Yakima, for helping spur donations.

"I don't think it would have all come together if it wasn't for Curtis King," Baldoz said. "He said seniors were a priority during his campaign, and by God, he's a man of his word."

King said all he did was make a few calls, and he's glad the community has responded. He's still waiting for word from Rotary clubs and Yakima County. Hopefully, some more funding will come through before the end of the year, he said.

"It was difficult to think about our senior citizens dependent on those meals to not have those
meals available to them, partic-ularly over the Christmas season," he said. "It's just an area we need to help where we can."

The funding problems can be attributed to costs outpacing revenue and low donations, Baldoz said. The program's budget is $607,000 this year, most of which comes from the federal government.

The nutrition program will resume in January, when the new grant-funding cycle begins. To help prevent future shortfalls, Baldoz is applying for a nonprofit status to encourage donations. He's also working to establish a Senior Advocacy Coalition to investigate revenue sources for his program and others.

Senior Nutrition/Meals on Wheels of Yakima County serves a yearly average of 400 meals a week at sites between Naches and Grandview and an additional 150 meals a week in home deliveries, Baldoz said.

* Erin Snelgrove can be reached at 577-7684 or esnelgrove@yakimaherald.com.

• The Classified Marketplace
• • Announcements
  • Public Notices
  • Legal Notices
  • Merchandise
  • Yard Sales
  • Animals
  • Finance

• Newspaper Ads
  View All