Mollie’s Meals caught in county funding squeeze, but support holds for now
As of early April, the county had cut at least four Mollies Meals’ recipients from the program
Belt-tightening by Allegheny County has sparked concerns about the future of home-delivered meals for seniors, including those provided by Mollie’s Meals through the Jewish Association on Aging.
As of early April, the county had cut at least four Mollies Meals’ recipients from the program, and informed JAA that new applicants for home-delivered meals were being waitlisted, according Sharyn Rubin, JAA’s director of resident and community services.
Although she did not know why the cuts were made, she said, “I suspect it was an issue with income.”
Rubin said she assured all four recipients that JAA would continue to serve them, regardless of the county’s actions. “I reached out to them. Two were OK with being dropped, and two wanted to continue.”
None of the 110 individuals currently enrolled in the program is in imminent danger of losing services, according to JAA’s President and CEO Mary Anne Foley.
“We will not cut anybody if we possibly can. We will figure out a way even if it means clients who are able to pay will pay something,” Foley said, noting that a private benefactor wishing to remain anonymous has stepped up with funding.
The philanthropic community may be called upon to provide even more support depending on what happens with the county, Foley said.
The county Area Agency on Aging is working through planning now, said spokesperson Cydney Cooper, and may be better prepared later this month to discuss its budget and how funding constraints could further affect services, including home-delivered meals.
“Unfortunately, due to reduced federal and state funding to the Area Agency on Aging we are facing a significant budget reduction. As of March 9, we enacted a temporary waitlist for home delivered meals.”
“In the meantime, older adults are still encouraged to call the SeniorLine at 412-350-5460 so they can be assessed for eligibility and directed to alternative food assistance resources.”
About 2,300 county residents receive home-delivered meals “that exceed federal and state standards,” Cooper said, indicating that five older adults are currently waitlisted and none are in the kosher meal delivery zip code.
Meals on Wheels programs are largely funded through the Older Americans Act, and are intended for adults age 60 and up who have difficulty preparing nutritious food for themselves. There are no income eligibility requirements. Donations or sliding-scale contributions are encouraged but not mandatory.
Mollie’s Meals is unique among “meals on wheels” programs in the type of food it delivers, said Foley.
“Our model is different than any other program. We don’t serve pork or shellfish. During Passover, we replace leavened stuff with matzah.”
The kitchen is certified kosher by the Vaad.
Non-Jews and Jews are served.
Foley said JAA subsidizes meals at a loss of $3 to $7 per meal.
Mollie’s Meals was founded as a kosher food delivery service in 1972 with support from the Edith Pichel Davis Fund. Originally called Kosher Meals on Wheels, it began as a partnership among three organizations, with Jewish Family and Children’s Service referring clients, the Jewish Home and Hospital for the Aged preparing the meals in its kitchen, and B’nai Brith Women making the deliveries.
Initially, the program provided 12 weekly hot and cold meals for $10.
In the mid-1990s, the program was renamed Mollie’s Meals after Mollie Dugan, a long-time volunteer coordinator of the program.
Her 2008 obituary indicates that Dugan managed the program for 25 years.
Besides providing sustenance, Mollie’s Meals enriches the lives of home-bound seniors in other ways, Rubin said.
“The volunteer who delivers the meal may be the only person they see during the day. The socialization they get from that five-minute visit is very meaningful. And it lets us eyeball recipients to determine what else they might need. It’s often the entry into wrap-around services.”
Mollie’s Meals is a way to keep older adults at home and provides respite to family members often burdened by caregiving, said Foley.
This is the first time a waitlist has been implemented for the program, said Rubin. “I think the county is trying to figure this out, too.” PJC
Deborah Weisberg is a freelance writer living in Pittsburgh.
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