Lake County >> There has been much confusion and worry surrounding the discussion of possible funding cuts for local Meals on Wheels programs, but Johnathan Crooks, the Executive Director of the Lakeport Senior Activity Center, insists that the panic is unwarranted. While the Trump administration has indeed floated around the idea of funding cuts, this is in reference to the Community Block Grant program, which supports facilities and their existing programs. Meals on Wheels is operated by funds received through Title 22. As of right now, Title 22 funding is safe.
This concern arises every time a new budget proposal comes out of Washington, Crooks explained. Whenever there is talk about slashing money for senior citizens, Meals on Wheels jumps to the forefront of people’s minds. And with good reason — during a recent crisis, the state was unable to provide the local senior centers with a portion of their funding.
“In general there’s an atmosphere of wanting to reduce federal spending,” Crooks said.
But under the proposed new budget, Meals on Wheels will continue to receive the same funding they have in the past. In fact, Crooks said that the government is trying something new and allocating a bit more money for senior centers, in an effort to see if more meals can be provided to those who need them.
However, that doesn’t mean Lake County senior centers are in the clear. Crooks was planning to apply for a Community Block Grant in order to make improvements to the Lakeport Senior Activity Center’s kitchen. Without a grant, the money will have to come from elsewhere.
Senior Centers face a plethora of other challenges, too, simply because there isn’t enough funding out there to meet all their needs. This is particularly true for the Lakeport Senior Activity Center and the Northshore Community Center, the latter of which is operated by Lucerne Alpine Seniors, Inc. Both reside outside Redbud Health Care District and receive no funding from the District, unlike the other senior centers in the area.
“Lucerne and Lakeport have been forced to fundraise like crazy,” Crooks said.
The Lakeport Senior Activity Center has reached a point where they can potentially be sustainable for the long term, but the story is different at the Northshore Community Center. Their biggest challenge has been fundraising, since the north side of the lake lacks some financial resources available to other corners of the county. While the center’s Executive Director, Nathan Maxan, expressed a desire for more volunteers, he said their biggest hurtle is bringing money through the doors. 40% of their budget comes from the local community, not the state or federal government.
“Fundraising is challenging on the north shore,” Maxan said. “That is one thing.”
Part of the problem is the distribution of funds. While Crooks, who acts as the Executive Director of the Lakeport center and its satellite location in Kelseyville, represents 40% of senior meals provided in the county, he receives less funding than other centers around the lake. This is because calculations are 14 years old, and what worked a decade and a half ago is no longer effective.
On top of that, the center has experienced delays in funding and other instances of instability. This is why Crooks is aiming to become less dependent on outside resources. “My goal is to make it something that is sustainable and something we can count on regardless of what the government is able to do,” he said.
Both Maxan and Crooks agreed that preparation is the best course of action. It’s far better to brace for budget cuts and not have them transpire, than to be hit out of the blue. One way to reduce overhead costs is for senior centers to work together.
Crooks explained that every center across the county faces different issues, and there’s no evident solution. But today, a Senior Summit is taking place at Robinson Rancheria Resort and Casino in Upper Lake, where senior centers hope to come up with some ways they can tackle the lack of resources, such as a county-wide foundation to support them.
“There’s a coming crisis,” Crooks stressed. “If we don’t start coming up with solutions today and figure this out, it’s going to be chaotic.”
The Senior Summit will also have information and resources available for seniors such as lunch menus and activities schedules at the various centers around the county. The day will also include training for current and potential non-profit board members.
The summit takes place from 9 a.m. -5 p.m. today and is free to seniors 60 and over and includes lunch. Admission is $5 for everyone else. Robinson Rancheria Resort and Casino is located at 1545 Hwy. 20 in Upper Lake.
Jennifer Gruenke can be reached at 900-2019.
