How to help
Donations can be made to Meals on Wheels Plus and the Food Bank of West Central Texas through their websites:
Meals on Wheels
Food Bank of West Central Texas

By Loretta Fulton

Thousands of local and area residents could be affected if proposed federal budget cuts dealing with feeding programs are enacted. 

Both Meals on Wheels Plus and the Food Bank of West Central Texas are in line for steep budget cuts. Meals on Wheels currently serves 1,738 individuals in Abilene and 14 surrounding communities, said Betty Bradley, executive director. The Food Bank serves 13 counties in West Central Texas, which includes about 100 food pantries and feeding programs, said Ronnie Kidd, president and chief operating officer of the Food Bank. 

“Our primary concern is getting food to those folks in our service area who need help getting it,” Kidd said.

Ronnie Kidd

Meals on Wheels has received $1.9 million annually from a Social Services Block Grant. The remainder of the agency’s $3.7 million annual budget comes from fundraisers and donations. The Food Bank has received a total of $588,000 over the past two years through the Local Food Purchase Agreement (LFPA) program, which is part of the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s farm bill. 

“Our understanding is the redirection of the USDA budget no longer provides for funding the LFPA program,” Kidd said. 

Food Bank of West Central Texas

The Food Bank participates in advocacy programs through both Feeding America and Feeding Texas, Kidd said. Bradley and Meals on Wheels board member Dr. Barry Moak flew to Washington, D.C., for a briefing on March 11. 

Three people, including Bradley, made a presentation about how their agencies would be affected by budget cuts. While in Washington, Moak and Bradley met with Rep. Jodey Arrington and with a member of Sen. John Coryn’s staff. 

“He (Arrington) wasn’t able to make any promises beyond that there will be a lot of cuts,” Bradley said.

Betty Bradley

Both the Food Bank and Meals on Wheels are making contingency plans in case their funding is cut as expected. Meals on Wheels is tightening its eligibility guidelines, Bradley said, and reevaluating clients who have access to other sources of meals. 

“We would like to reduce the number of people we are serving, and get more clients helping with the cost of their meals,” Bradley said. 

Meals on Wheels Plus

Kidd said the Food Bank is always looking for new sources of income, as well as maintaining existing donar relations. If the budget cuts go through as anticipated, Kidd said, the Food Bank would either have to find a way to replace those funds or reduce food purchasing.

Both Bradley and Kidd are planning for the future with or without government support, but are hopeful that the outlook in Washington changes. 

“We are better when we work together to get this done,” Kidd said. “We need help through private donations as well as government programs.”

Loretta Fulton is creator and editor of Spirit of Abilene