by Jen Wahl

BOISE – Central District Health says it no longer has the money to fund meals at senior centers and for its Meals on Wheels program.

And now they’re looking for an angel to intervene.

More than 1,000 seniors depend on the lunches from Meals on Wheels and senior centers in Ada and Elmore counties.

“We can’t afford to continue to subsidize the program when we’re seeing our state appropriates shrink in the upcoming fiscal year,” said Dave Fotsch, public information officer for the Central District Health Department.

Fotsch says in order for Central District to continue funding the senior meals, they’ll need donations of about $250,000 for the next few years. Seniors are asked to make a $4 donation for each meal, but the average donation is only about a $1.25. But if a senior has no means of paying, they don’t have to pay.

“I don’t like sitting there by myself,” said Jill Domy, a participant. “I like sitting here where I can visit with people.”

The department says it will cut money for the program June 1 this year after Gov. Butch Otter ordered a 6 percent holdback of funds in fiscal year 2009. CDHD has reluctantly decided to cut funds in order to continue to give money to other programs including childhood immunizations and environmental health.

“There are a lot of older people out there,” Domy said. “They really look forward to this meal every day – and if they didn’t have it they’d really be lost.”

CDHD says Southwest Idaho’s Area Agency on Aging has until June 1 to find a new sponsor or else 1,200 seniors could be without meals.