While senior hunger is on the rise funding is being decreased. The impact of the Federal Sequester on Vermont seniors was recently announced to area providers. Locally CVAA (Champlain Valley Agency on Aging) was told that it would face nearly $85,000 in budget cuts for this fiscal year retroactive to this past October.
"In the short term we will do our best to minimize the impact on seniors who use our services such as meals on wheels, case management, and transportation," stated John Barbour, Executive Director of CVAA. "If no agreement is reached, we will be forced to reduce the support that we can provide to seniors and caregivers."
CVAA delivers over 245,000 Meals on Wheels to homebound seniors in the Champlain Valley each year.
Mayor Michael O'Brien of Winooski will deliver Meals on Wheels on March 20 to bring attention to the problem of senior hunger in Vermont. O'Brien will join mayors around the Champlain Valley and around the nation as part of the March for Meals campaign held each year to bring attention to the problem of senior hunger. People are encouraged to go to cvaa.org to sign the Pledge to End Senior Hunger.
Armistead Caregiver Services will be holding a food drive for low income seniors. For 2013, Armistead is aiming to collect 1,000 pounds of food to be distributed to Vermont seniors. This is being organized through neighborhood and business collection sites," announced Diane Way, Community Outreach Coordinator for Armistead. "In partnership with CVAA, there will be a food drop at CVAA's third annual Bowl-a-thon to Strike Out Senior Hunger being held at Spare Time in Colchester on Saturday, March 23 from 1:30-4pm." This food drop is open to the general public, please donate only shelf stable food products.
CVAA is a non-profit organization that empowers seniors to live well. CVAA works with seniors and caregivers, offering guidance and providing the support and services they need, when they need them. With the help of community partners and volunteers, CVAA serves over 10,000 seniors. Established in 1974, CVAA is known as the resource for seniors in the Champlain Valley (Addison, Chittenden, Franklin and Grand Isle Counties). For more information call 1-800-642-5119 or click on cvaa.org.