Meals on Wheels to close

By Wayne Allen

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Officials with the Greenup (Ky.) Meals on Wheels Program has decided to close at the end of July. Contributing factors to the closure include declining health of volunteers and declining donations.

When asked about the closure, Hugh Davis, a program volunteer, said, “Primarily it’s a funding and health issues. About a year ago to go to 100 percent donations.” He said part of the decision was interviewing meal recipients to see if they were financially able to pay for meals. He said the recipients were able to if they were charged a fee per-meal.

“We were able to hold fundraisers about every two years. We would bring in some big bluegrass names and generate some revenue that way,” Davis said. He said with the health issues of volunteers they were not able to have the annual fundraiser.

According to www.greenupmealsonwheels.com, “Greenup Meals on Wheels was started in August of 2005 when the need was made known by local hospitals. A small group of volunteers with a total of $125 in hand, decided to step out in faith and start the program.”

In 2010 the program received a grant to build their own kitchen to prepare meals in.

Davis said the program will operate until the end of July, when funds run out. He said the closure comes as a disappointment, “we serve about 40 people, likely two thirds of them could manage on their own. There’s a about a dozen or so who are old and live alone will have to make other arrangements. I don’t know what they are going to do because, we can’t do it anymore.”

According to program information, Greenup Meals on Wheels serves the cities of Greenup, Wurtland, Raceland and Worthington. Deliverers are made Monday through Friday. Volunteers drove 5,300 miles and delivered 8,611 meals in 2012.

Wayne Allen can be reached at 740-353-3101, ext. 1933 or on Twitter @WayneallenPDT

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