Meals on Wheels program seeks support through livestock purchase

The Flathead County agency that distributes meals for seniors is hoping the upcoming market livestock sale at the Northwest Montana Fair & Rodeo could be an avenue for stocking its freezer.  

The Flathead County Agency on Aging provides about 7,000 home-delivered meals per month through its Meal on Wheels program for homebound seniors. Since 2020 the agency has seen a 36% increase in the number of meals distributed while the costs for food and labor have also increased.  

Carla Dyment, director of the Agency on Aging, said federal and state funding that primarily supports the meal program has not kept pace with the need and cost increase.  

“We have always relied upon support from the community to supplement the nutrition program through donations and contributions to meals, but the gap between rising costs and current funding is wider than ever, threatening the long-term sustainability of our meals services.”  

So, the agency is turning to the community for assistance. The purchase of an animal at the Northwest Montana Fair Market Sale donated to the meals program would help seniors, but it also assists the youngsters who raise the animals.  

“We want to ignite the community around supporting the Meals on Wheels program, which serves the elderly in our community who have an economic need and can't leave their home,” Dyment said. “It also supports kids and invests in their future by purchasing an animal. It’s a neat circle to be able to help both the elderly and the young in our community.”  

Nutrition guidelines require each meal to include 4 ounces of protein. This has become a challenge as costs have increased, Dyment said.  

The donation of one steer could provide an estimated 1,500 meals, while one hog could provide 1,000 meals. Any donation would help, but the agency would ultimately like to stock its freezer for the next several months as the facility can take up to 2,000 pounds of meat at one time — or roughly 10 hogs and 10 steer.  

“One steer would provide about a week of meals for us,” Dyment said. “That has a significant impact for us. Not just because it provides meat for us, but also because it allows us to save money by not purchasing that meat.” 

In the last fiscal year which runs from July to June, the Meals on Wheels program provided about 85,000 meals to homebound seniors.  

The program provides a hot meal to homebound residents delivered by volunteers Monday through Friday throughout the county. Frozen meals are provided for the weekend.  

To be eligible for the program, a person must have a need for the service, meaning they can’t come to the agency’s dining room for lunch or shop and prepare meals for themselves, or have a caregiver who can routinely prepare meals for them. 

Pointing to a survey of those who get meals, Dyment notes that many say they wouldn’t be able to afford meals without the program or they wouldn’t be able to stay in their own home without the meal delivery.  

“These are people who are living on a fixed income, and meeting needs such as housing and food costs have gotten harder than ever. It takes more effort to live independently,” Dyment said.  

The Meals on Wheels program is part of the agency's services that assist seniors who want to stay in their own homes.  

“Because if people can continue to live independently in their community, even if supported marginally by a program like Meals on Wheels, that’s less strain on the system of nursing homes and facilities,” Dyment said. “Then those facilities can help those who really need them.” 

To donate during the livestock auction, buyers must check the box next to Meals on Wheels on the purchase ticket. The market sale takes place on Aug. 17 at 8 a.m. at the Flathead County Fairgrounds.  

For more information, contact the Agency on Aging at 758-2481. 

Deputy Editor Heidi Desch may be reached at 758-4421 or hdesch@dailyinterlake.com.