Across Mississippi, senior home meal delivery services could face financial pressure under President Donald Trump's budget proposal. MPB's Alexis Ware has the story.
Meals on Wheels programs in Mississippi are facing significant budget cuts under President Trump's proposal. His budget includes a three million dollar cut for the Community Services Block Grant, a grant that provides funding for communities in poverty and aid for low-income households such as Meals on Wheels. One Mississippi Meals on Wheels program receives 80 percent of its funding from the federal government.
Cleveland Joseph is with Three Rivers Planning and Development, a Meals on Wheels provider in eight north Mississippi counties. He says without the funding some senior citizens would not have access to food.
"If we didn't deliver the meals sometimes that person that receives the meal we're the only person they see so we do socialization along with delivering the meals."
Three Rivers receives 15 percent of its Meals on Wheels funding from local donations and the rest from organizations like United Way. Joseph says without the federal funding they could not continue to operate.
A potential shut-down of Meals on Wheels would increase the need for other food bank organizations. Marilyn Blackledge is the Director of External Affairs at Mississippi Food Network. She says the Food Network would have to increase their services.
"We've seen this before with Snap benefits being cut and the economy changing over the years and we continue to work to feed people."
Blackledge says an increase in donations would help to ensure all citizens in need receive food.
