Changes Could Threaten Meals On Wheels

A change from the nonprofit that oversees the Cuba and Bourbon senior programs could threaten Meals on Wheels in Crawford County.

Diane Walker, a representative from the Cuba Senior Center, told Crawford County commissioners on June 10 that Aging Best has presented a contract that would likely force cuts to the popular program. There are more than 3,000 meals delivered in Crawford County monthly.

Walker said she was not at the commission meeting to ask for money, but to apprise them of what could happen in the next few weeks.

Walker explained that a local staff handles the day-to-day operations at the Bourbon and Cuba senior centers, which provides a daily inexpensive meal and also Meals on Wheels.

Aging Best handles the contract.

According to Walker, Aging Best has presented a contract that would change the human resources component and affect employment. If the contract isn’t signed, Walker said the two senior centers will basically be on their own.

“We need an extension, but rumor has it they won’t grant one,” Walker said.

Aging Best, Walker said, wants the senior center to take over staffing. There are two full-time workers, one part-time worker and many volunteers who help out.

Signing the contract would force those employees to work on a contractual basis and lose benefits, Walker said.

“If we don’t sign, they are probably out of a job,” she said. “We would want to hire them but it’s an additional expense.”

Walker said they receive some tax money from the city of Cuba. 

“They have been generous with us, but they are telling us they can’t give us more,” Walker said, adding that they could be getting less from the city in the future.

According to Walker, continuing to deliver seven meals a week to all the people who have signed up through Medicaid would force the senior center to go in a $13,000 hole.

“We will be going into our reserves,” she said.

Aging Best has given the senior center a list of local, state and federal employment laws that must be followed, but Walker said they “don’t operate like this. We’re casual.”

The senior center is looking an for attorney. They have reached out to a pro bono lawyer from Jefferson City that could provide help.