Gas Prices Effecting Meals on Wheels
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With gas and food prices up and the economy down, the Meals on Wheels program says it feels like it has been dealt a triple whammy and is now forced to spend millions of extra dollars. Still the program moves forward, but for how much longer? Maudie Dokken has the meals and has the wheels, but if gas prices continue to climb, she cannot help but wonder how it could affect how often home bound seniors will get their meals delivered, across the nation. Martha Lara, a resident says, “I just hope they get the gas prices to where Meals on Wheels can still go out and take care of those people.” Lara is personally touched by volunteer efforts because last year her father, who suffers from Alzheimer’s, needed to use the program. Lara adds, “It is sad for me to think about them not being able to go out and do this.” Luckily, Meals on Wheels in Jackson has not suffered because of the high gas prices. All 70 of their volunteers are still answering the call of duty. Dokken says, “They’re not going to let gas prices get in the way of their aiding the community.” However, the same thing cannot be said for other programs across the nation. According to a recent survey conducted by the organization, about 80 percent of the programs have lost volunteers, and about 25 percent of those programs have had to reduce the number of meals they serve per week. Lara says, “That would be a disservice.” Right now, workers and volunteers from every program across the nation spend more than $247,000 a day on gas to deliver food. With every one cent increase in the price of gas, tack on an additional $250,000 a year that they have to spend.
