What it means for Meals on Wheels and what you can do to help!

Together, we can deliver

The Pennsylvania’s state budget impasse AND ongoing federal government shutdown is threatening critical funding for senior nutrition services. If the impasse persists, the threat to funding is all the more likely for state-administered programs and the flow of federal funds — including Medicaid and SNAP. These disruptions affect both our operations and the stability of the neighbors we serve.

At Meals on Wheels of Lancaster, our mission remains simple: deliver fresh, nutritious meals — and dignity — to seniors and adults with disabilities who can’t prepare meals themselves. Our funding sources are critical to the services that we provide to the community and that’s why we want to help you better understand how we’re funded and what you can to do to help. We have outlined below where our funding comes from, how it connects with other senior services and what you can do to help us continue delivering meals to our neighbors in need.

Thank you for taking the time to understand how these changes affect our organization and, most importantly, the neighbors we serve. Your awareness and support make all the difference.

Understanding How We’re Funded

Older Americans Act (OAA) Funding

The Older Americans Act (OAA) Title III-C Nutrition Program is the primary source of federal funding for Meals on Wheels programs nationwide. First passed in 1965, the OAA established the foundation for vital programs that support older adults — including home-delivered meals. These funds begin at the federal level and flow through the Pennsylvania Department of Aging, which distributes them to 52 Area Agencies on Aging (AAAs) across the state. The ongoing federal government shutdown may have an impact on delaying or limiting the funds distributed to the states.

Update on SNAP (Food Assistance):
Due to the ongoing federal government shutdown, Pennsylvania’s Department of Human Services has announced that SNAP benefits, starting Oct 16th, will not be paid until federal government shutdown ends. This interruption in critical food assistance affects thousands of Lancastrians– including seniors — further compounding the impact of the state budget impasse. Meals on Wheels of Lancaster is a SNAP retailer who accepts food stamps in exchange for meal delivery services. The clients who receive SNAP benefits are often our most vulnerable population — those who fall in the gaps or may not be eligible for other senior services.

How It Works in Pennsylvania

The Pennsylvania Lottery designates all its proceeds to benefit older Americans. It remains the only state to do so. Among other funding sources, the state lottery funds are included in a line item in the state’s aging services budget called PennCARE. These funds are then distributed to each AAA who are the entities responsible for administering the funds for their county(s) at the local level. The funding allocation to each AAA is based on an Intrastate Funding Formula (IFF) approved by the Pennsylvania Department of Aging, which considers factors such as the number of older adults, poverty levels, and rural/urban residence.

Here in Lancaster County, the Office of Aging serves as the local AAA. They contract with providers like Meals on Wheels of Lancaster to deliver nutritious meals and essential services to older adults in our community.

Here’s the Situation

Due to the Pennsylvania state budget impasse, the flow of these funds has been disrupted. In Lancaster County, we received confirmation this week that service providers will be reimbursed at 60% for services rendered in October and in all likelihood providers may not be reimbursed for services rendered in November onward if the impasse persists. This funding gap directly affects our operations. Meals on Wheels of Lancaster will have to draw from our reserves to sustain services. We know these reserves are limited, and the county cannot sustain partial reimbursements indefinitely.

Meals on Wheels of Lancaster has always been a careful steward of resources—operating efficiently to keep costs low for our clients. However, because we prioritize affordability and direct service over administrative overhead, we do not maintain a large reserve or “rainy day” fund. If these funding delays continue for an extended period of time, we will soon face extremely difficult decisions — including the ability to meet payroll for our dedicated staff and cover basic operating expenses like our mortgage, utilities, maintenance of our commercial kitchen equipment.

Our Call to Action

Meals on Wheels of Lancaster — no matter the challenge — we’ve always found a way to deliver. And we’re not stopping now. With state reimbursements uncertain and reserves running thin, we need you to help us keep the wheels turning.

Every dollar you give today helps directly ensure that Lancaster’s seniors continue receiving the meals they deserve regardless of whether the government passes their budgets. Our clients are people who have spent a lifetime building the very community that we all enjoy. They’ve earned the security, dignity and the simple comfort of a meal. Partisan politics shouldn’t take that away.

Your support is what stands between hundreds of homebound neighbors and an empty plate. It fuels our ability to pay staff, keeps our kitchen running, and delivers hope to hundreds of neighbors who would otherwise go without food.

Stand with us in this critical moment. Give today to help us #FeedYourElders — so no neighbor is left hungry, isolated, or forgotten.

Donate Today

Lancaster’s seniors can’t afford to wait for the delays of partisan politics to subside— and neither can we. Your donation today keeps food on the table, staff paid, and neighbors fed with dignity and care.

To make a donation online, please click here.

Checks made payable to: Meals on Wheels, Inc.
Deliver/Mail to our address:
1411 Columbia Avenue, Lancaster, PA 17603

Cash donations can be delivered/mailed to our address:
1411 Columbia Avenue, Lancaster, PA 17603

Volunteer

It takes a village — and a few good drivers — to feed Lancaster’s seniors. If you are unable to make a financial contribution, consider volunteering your time to deliver more than a meal: deliver connection, compassion, and community. Click here to learn more about our current volunteer opportunities or join us for volunteer orientations between Noon and 2 PM (drop in anytime) on Wednesdays. Please reach out by contacting us: volunteer@lancastermow.org or 717-392-4842

Please note that we do require state background checks for all our volunteers. If you have a copy of your own background check that is three (3) years old or newer, we will gladly accept a copy. This will reduce the administrative work associated with your onboarding.

Advocate

Your voice is incredibly valuable to the seniors we serve. Contact your elected officials about the funding, compassion, and the programs that keep our community strong. Remind them that they have a responsibility to Feed Your Elders, too.

Find Your Member of Congress | Advocate for Senior Meals
Find My Legislator – The Official Website of the Pennsylvania General Assembly

To Our Clients,

We are honored to serve you as your home-delivered meals provider. We want you to know that we are doing everything possible to keep those deliveries coming. We understand how vital these meals are to your independence, health and peace of mind. We remain committed to serving you with consistency and care.

You are not alone facing these challenges and the impact this could have on your in-home care. These disruptions make our work more challenging, but they also remind us of why our mission matters more than ever. We are fighting to keep Meals on Wheels of Lancaster strong – so that no one in our community must go without a meal or a friendly visit.

Your story is a powerful part of this fight. If you have felt the impact of these challenges or if you have benefited from the support of Meals on Wheels – we encourage you to share your experience. Your voice helps us advocate for continued funding and bring awareness to the impact these services have on our community. Please contact our Executive Director, Feleen Nancarvis: feleen@lancastermow.org or 717-392-4842

Sign Up to Receive Home-Delivered Meals
If you or someone you know would like to sign up to receive home-delivered meals, please call our office: 717-392-4842 or click here to send us an email. If you would like to learn more about the meals that we serve, please click here.

To Our Volunteers,

We are deeply grateful for your dedication to our mission. Your optimism and willingness to serve is changing lives every day. We have weathered many challenges before but right now we need your commitment more than ever.

The state’s budget impasse is creating uncertainty for the months ahead, but one thing hasn’t changed: our clients are counting on us. Every volunteer in the kitchen and on the road makes a direct impact — ensuring that no senior in Lancaster goes without a meal or a friendly check-in.

Our most urgent need is for kitchen & delivery volunteers– where your time and energy make an immediate impact. If you or someone you know would like to learn more about our current volunteer opportunities, click here or join us for volunteer orientations between Noon and 2 PM (drop in anytime) on Wednesdays.

Please contact us at volunteer@lancastermow.org or 717-392-4842

Please note that we do require state background checks for all of our volunteers. If you have a copy of your own background check that is three (3) years old or newer, we will gladly accept a copy. This will reduce the administrative work associated with onboarding new volunteers.

Local & Nationwide MOW Programs

Meals on Wheels is a nationwide network of independent meal providers — and together, we’re stronger. If you represent another local program, please share how these funding challenges are affecting your operations so we can stay connected and informed.

Other Meals On Wheels Locations in Lancaster County, PA
A list of all the MOW programs in Lancaster County, PA.

Find a Meals on Wheels Provider Near You
Search by zip code to find a MOW program in your area.

Response from Meals on Wheels America
Stay up-to-date on national advocacy and funding efforts led by Meals on Wheels America.

Contact Your Elected Officials

It is vital for state and federal leaders to hear how critical home-delivered meals services are to Lancaster’s seniors. Use the links below to find your representatives and urge them to protect funding for Meals on Wheels.

Find Your Member of Congress | Advocate for Senior Meals
Find My Legislator – The Official Website of the Pennsylvania General Assembly