South Michigan News

The Community Action Agency is pushing for Branch County Commissioners to put a .2 mill request on the ballot in November to feed seniors, but commissioners want more information on the proposal before making a decision.

Branch County doesn't typically use the Commission on Aging millage to provide meals to the elderly, according to Hillsdale Daily News. The county's Meals on Wheels program receives money from federal funds and the Area Agency on Aging. 

The Community Action Agency is asking the commissioners for $297,000 from the millage for meals for the elderly for 2021. According to Michele Williams, executive director, 102 more clients could receive meals with this money a year. 

Josh Hutchinson, a Meals on Wheels driver, told Hillsdale Daily News that volunteering has opened his eyes to the community, especially since much of the program's current funds are coming from CARES Act funding. 

“These are your friends and neighbors, your co-workers, who have worked and made their contribution and are now in a time of need," he told Hillsdale Daily News. “I don’t know what will happen to these people when COVID funds go away."

Before the coronavirus pandemic, the program served 67 home deliveries and 14 congregate meals, Williams told the news agency. Now, the program only does meal delivery to 181 senior citizens. 

But once the organization stops receiving CARES Act funding, the amount of clients Meals on Wheels delivers to will have to be cut back. The Hillsdale Daily News reports 105 clients will be cut once those funds run out unless that money is replaced.

Surrounding counties have been using millage to fund meals for the elderly and County Commission District 1 candidate Tim Stoll, said he would like similar programs in Hillsdale County. 

“It’s a very robust program,” he told Hillsdale Daily News. “I would like to see something like this taken up (here). But it may be a difficult time for the taxpayers.”