Area Agency to get stimulus funds to feed elderly

By David Skolnick

The money will be a ‘tremendous help, particularly in Columbiana and Mahoning’ counties, an agency spokeswoman says.

YOUNGSTOWN — About $250,000 from the federal economic stimulus package is going to fund programs that provide food to senior citizens in Mahoning, Trumbull, Columbiana and Ashtabula counties.

The Area Agency on Aging 11 will receive the money to help with the Congregate Meals and Home-Delivered Meals programs in the four counties.

“This will be a tremendous help, particularly to those in Columbiana and Mahoning” counties, said Lisa Solley, the agency’s spokeswoman.

Unlike Trumbull and Ashtabula counties, Mahoning and Columbiana don’t have tax levies to help fund programs for seniors, she said.

The senior meal programs in the four counties cost $2.75 million last year, Solley said.

The agency had to take $75,000 from other programs last year to make up a shortfall for congregate meals, she said.

The agency is receiving $248,954 from the federal stimulus package for the programs in the four counties.

There are about 165 seniors in Mahoning and Columbiana counties on the waiting list for the programs who can now be served with stimulus money, Solley said.

The Congregate Meals Program provides food to seniors in group settings such as churches or senior centers. It’s designed to prevent poor nutrition and social isolation among seniors.

The Home-Delivered Meals Program provides meals to homebound seniors allowing them to continue living in independent settings rather than nursing homes.

“This money is a wonderful opportunity to help fill a void that we’ve had,” said Lisa Argiro, the agency’s director of home and community based services. “The way decreases in funding have worked, there sometimes are folks who can fall through the cracks when it comes to healthy eating. This new money is a way to help get them a nutritious meal.”

To qualify, a person has to be at least age 60. Donations from participants are accepted but aren’t required.

“We have an obligation to ensure older Americans do not go hungry,” said U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown. “These funds will provide a lifeline to homebound seniors while ensuring other older Americans in need have access to nutritious meals.”

Brown, a Democrat from Avon, announced Wednesday that the federal government awarded $3.7 million from the economic stimulus package to Ohio for the two senior food programs.

The money is being distributed statewide by the Ohio Department of Aging.

Nationwide, $65 million of the $787 billion in the federal stimulus package is going to these senior food programs.

skolnick@vindy.com