HOPKINSVILLE, KY (CHRISTIAN COUNTY NOW) – The Pennyrile Area Development District (PeADD) and Pennyrile Allied Community Services (PACS) announced a revised plan of action to continue providing Home Delivered Meals to seniors in the region following recent funding reductions.
State funding reductions were recently communicated by the Kentucky Department for Aging and Independent Living (DAIL), with the region facing a cut of nearly $1.5 million for the program. In response, PACS will now transition to a three-day-per-week delivery schedule. Beginning on Oct. 6, they will deliver free, hot meals every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday from the Christian County Senior Center and other participating facilities in the region.
Through the use of supplemental “other” funds contributed jointly by PeADD and PACS, the program will be able to serve the entire current client list for the next seven weeks. At the conclusion of those seven weeks, unless a funding solution is identified, the program will then be required to transition to a reduced client list. That model would remain in place for the remainder of the fiscal year.
“We are grateful to be able to temporarily maintain service to all of our meal recipients,” said Jason Vincent, Executive Director of PeADD. “This plan buys us some time, but without restored funding, many of our seniors will still face the reality of losing access to this essential program. We sincerely thank the PeADD and PACS Boards for their leadership and commitment to ensure the continuation of services during this critical time.”
Harold Monroe, Executive Director of PACS, added, “We know how important these meals are to our clients, not only for nutrition but also for the personal contact they provide. We will continue doing everything in our power to ensure that those most in need are cared for.”
Program participants are receiving written communication about these changes with their meal deliveries on Sept. 30.