There is this rampant rumor rolling through south western Kentucky, in which citizens believe discussed cuts to the federal Meals on Wheels America program is a cause for the Commonwealth’s coming reductions to the home-delivered senior meals service.
This could not be further from the truth.
While some counties in Kentucky do use the popular not-for-profit option, the Pennyrile Area Development District and the Pennyrile Allied Community Services are, respectively, a legal passthrough organization and a Community Action Plan, or CAP, Agency.
This means the nine-county region uses several channels of Title III Homecare and Expanded Senior Meals Programs (ESMP) funds — which are somewhat appropriated through the U.S. government, but are massively anchored through state budget decisions.
In Fiscal Year 2025, and according to PADD Executive Director Jason Vincent and Senior Staff Accountant Hayla Swaw, their organization had more than $1.8 million in Title III dollars and more than $800,000 in ESMP dollars, and of the total $2.64 million budgeted, more than $1.9 million came from the Kentucky General Assembly.
Fiscal Year 2026, Vincent and Swaw both confirmed, looks much more different and, at this moment, grim.
While there is a federal line-item reduction from $347,437 to $203,832, as well as a federal unexpended line-item reduction from $146,458 to $1,881, state ESMP funds were slimmed by nearly $27,000, and additional state appropriations were cut by more than $1.1 million.
As such, PADD and PACS are staring at the reported $1.5 million shortfall — caused mainly by the lack of state funds.
Vincent and Swaw explained that in 2020, both the Governor’s office and the Kentucky General Assembly agreed that “no senior should be hungry” during the global pandemic — and because of this belief, opted to use American Rescue Plan Act funds to expand the home-delivered senior meals program.
ARPA allocations ceased nationwide September 30, a deadline all authorities were cognizant about during the formation of the state’s 2024-26 biennium budget.
Both Vincent and Swaw, however, noted that there was a “very abrupt” two-week window leading up to the Department of Aging and Independent Living’s memorandum discussing lack of funding, in which messaging at the state level changed from “serve everyone” to “make cuts now” and “do what you need to do to get through the year.”
In a joint release sent Tuesday, Vincent and PACS Executive Director Harold Monroe detailed a three-day delivery plan that could be funded for seven weeks.
Vincent said a discussion with the PADD Board of Directors first focused on the region-wide meal pause that was first scheduled for Wednesday, October 1.
From there, Vincent and Swaw said $140,000 was the agreed upon value to avoid the halt, because that’s how much it costs to feed 767 seniors already on the list five days a week for two weeks.
Shifting it to three meals over five days stretches funds further, and a match from PACS pushes it to Thanksgiving.
If no solution arises in the next 60 days, Vincent said the plan is to stay at three meals per week, and then cut the rolls by more than 60% until the Kentucky General Assembly convenes for the biennium budget in January, and it would mean reduced services for no less than two months.
Despite operating on a governmental non-profit budget, Vincent said the combined $280,000 can be provided through programming cash flow — even through a government shutdown because of essential services — but he called this immediate patching “unsustainable.”
Vincent also noted that PADD remains to be one of the few districts still offering hot meals only, due to improved quality and required “personal touch.” All nine counties operate on the same meal plan, which he said makes bulk ordering “more efficient” and “cost effective.”
What’s difficult, Vincent urged, is that PADD and PACS are legally obligated to keep the list of home-delivered senior meals private, so those who may be struggling during this time must reach out to churches and other organizations for help.
Meanwhile, these past few weeks for PADD have been difficult. Vincent said retiring Aging and Independent Living Director Jill Collins has personally been delivering meals and updated news to constituents this week.
Vincent said every one of the 767 seniors who are using this extended program “have been assessed, and have a need” that must be met.
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Meals On Wheels America
According to the Meals on Wheels America website, it is a national organization that empowers local community programs to improve the health and quality of life of seniors. It serves more than 2 million seniors annually, providing them with nutritious meals, wellness checks, and friendly companionship. The organization aims to end the wait for seniors in need and ensure that every senior who needs Meals on Wheels receives it. With a focus on nutrition and social connection, Meals on Wheels America is committed to ensuring that every senior who needs it has access to nutritious meals and moments of connection.
As of the end of September, these were the expected Meal Budget Shortfalls for both congregate and home-delivered meals across the Commonwealth:
ADD; C1 Deficit (Congregate); C1 Date of Final Expenditure; Total C1 Clients; C2 Deficit (Home-delivered Meals); C2 Date of Final Expenditure; Total C2 Clients
+ Barren River: $0, none, 448, $0, none, 154
+ Big Sandy: -$142,000, April 26, 2026, 1,054, -$553,565, March 26, 2026, 1,077
+ Bluegrass: -$85,994.70, May 26, 2026, 866, -$957,031.20, February 26, 2026, 936
+ Buffalo Trace: -$53,994, May 26, 2026, 397, -$339,842, December 25/January 26, 2026, 543
+ Cumberland Valley: -$144,733.13, April 26, 2026, 370, -$2,217,801.84, October 25, 2025, 933
+ FIVCO: $0, 189, 0, $0, 45
+ Gateway: -$231,527, January 26, 2026, 300, -$494,159, January 26, 2026, 485
+ Green River: $0, 777, -$216,173, April 26, 2025, 239
+ Kentucky River: -$53,367, May 26, 2026, 410, -$101,492, May 26, 2026, 987
+ KIPDA: -$82,452, January 26, 2026, 862, -$1,731,348, April 26, 2026, 1,523
+ Lake Cumberland: $0, 523, -$92,139, May 26, 2026, 312
+ Lincoln Trail: -$352,124, March 26, 2026, 453, -$37,857, May 26, 2026, 141
+ Northern Kentucky: (unknown), April 26, 2026, 148, -$152,000, April 26, 2026, 612
+ Pennyrile: $0, 478, -$1,483,333, October 25, 2025, 767
+ Purchase: -$24,121.73, June 26, 2026, 820, -$1,060,014.61, December 25, 2025, 877
Total Congregate Deficit: -$1,170,313.56
Total Congregate Cuts Expected Through Fiscal Year: 1,681
Total Home-Delivered Deficit: -$9,436,755.65
Total Home-Delivered Cuts Expected Through Fiscal Year: 5,140
