Meals on Wheels for Greater Houston
3217 Montrose Boulevard, Houston, TX 77006
Phone: 713-533-4900, Fax: 713-520-4663
A Community Service of Interfaith Ministries for Greater Houston

 

 

Meals on Wheels for Greater Houston is supported, in part, by

Harris County Area Agency on Aging

IM is a Beneficiary Agency of:

 

 


COMMISSIONER TODD STAPLES AWARDS MORE THAN $1.6 MILLION
TO HARRIS COUNTY HOME-DELIVERED MEAL PROVIDERS
Funds to Buy Breakfast, Weekend Meals for Hundreds of Additional Homebound Texans

Austin – Commissioner Todd Staples announced today the Texas Department of Agriculture is awarding approximately $1.6 million to local Harris County organizations that provide meals to homebound seniors and those with special needs. Of the total allocation, $1.3 million will go to Interfaith Ministries' Meals on Wheels for Greater Houston. According to the provider, the grant will fund meals for an additional 600 seniors, and for breakfast and weekend meals to 100 more at-risk seniors. The funds are provided through TDA’s new Texans Feeding Texans:  Home-Delivered Meal Grant Program.

“The season of giving may be over, but the need to give continues,” Commissioner Staples said. “We need to do everything in our power to make sure our seniors and Texans with special needs never go hungry. This funding will help fill the stomachs and hearts of people who aren't looking for a hand out – just a helping hand.”

“This grant signifies that the state recognizes seniors’ nourishment needs and understands the importance of feeding hungry seniors, a population that is often forgotten, ” Bridget Samuel, Interfaith Ministries chief operating officer said.

“The grant recipients provide an amazing service to the Harris County area, feeding in excess of 1 million meals annually to hungry residents. The Texas Department of Agriculture is honored to be able to assist these agencies in expanding services to help those in need,” Commissioner Staples added.

The Texans Feeding Texans:  Home-Delivered Meal Grant Program is a result of House Bill 407, passed during the 80th Legislative Session. The bill was created to give extra funding to home-delivered meal providers for 2008 and 2009. The grants, based partly on the number of meals eligible applicants served this past year, can only be used to supplement and expand existing service related to the delivery of meals.

“Home-delivered meal providers have made significant differences in their counties by feeding hungry Texans, but they’ve not been able to do so alone,” Commissioner Staples said. “These agencies have depended on private donations to operate, and while the Texas Department of Agriculture is pleased to be a public partner this year and next, the demand for home-delivered meals will continue, and so will the need for private contributions.”

“Thanks to support from the Houston community, Interfaith Ministries' Meals on Wheels for Greater Houston and providers throughout Harris County have been able to serve significantly more seniors than we could on our own,” Elliot Gershenson, IM president and CEO said.  "And, we are very appreciative to the Harris County Commissioner's Court and Judge Ed Emmett for approving the required county match so that these new funds would be available to our organizations.”

TDA will award almost 100 grants this year to home-delivered meal providers. For more information on this program and to apply, visit the Texas Department of Agriculture Web site and search “home-delivered meal grant program.”

All TDA press releases are also available via the Internet at www.tda.state.tx.us.