by Amanda Hara
Mt. Juliet, Tenn.—Thousands of mid-state seniors depend on Meals on Wheels to provide their daily food, but this year, not everyone in need is being served.
Last year, the Mid-Cumberland Human Resource Agency got lucky. Stimulus money helped support its Meals on Wheels program, but now that the money is gone, the waiting list is growing.
The loss of stimulus money means hundreds of local seniors are going to bed hungry every night.
Thursday morning, Bobbi Jo Caldwell made a delivery to Eileen Pauley's Mount Juliet home.
Caldwell said the elderly woman, who can't stand or drive, relies on daily deliveries for food.
"She smiles and she says thank you and you can feel the love behind that. She's not a woman of many words but when she says thank you it means a lot," said Caldwell.
Now that the stimulus has run out, the Mid Cumberland Human Resource Agency was forced to put 225 seniors on a waiting list.
"Not only are we providing them a meal, we provide a smile and a listening ear and it really helps them because a lot of times we are the only ones they see every day," she said.
Meals on Wheels needs $225,000 in order to serve the hundreds of people on that waiting list.
To make a donation, click on the following link: http://www.mchra.com/Donate.php
You can also mail a donation to the MCHRA Office:
1101 Kermit Drive, Suite 300
Nashville, TN 37217
Email: ahara@newschannel5.com
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