Trump’s Proposed Budget Cuts for Meals on Wheels Causes Outrage

Food

 | March 20, 2017 | By Steven Lerner

Seniors experiencing a bout of sticker shock after learning that Trumpcare might diminish Medicare recently learned that there might also be Meals on Wheels cuts.

Last week, the Trump administration announced that they are slashing $6.2 billion from the Department of Housing and Urban Development. That includes an elimination of $3 billion for the Community Development Block grant program that provides funds for Meals on Wheel.

Meals on Wheels spokeswoman Jenny Bertolette told CNN, “It is difficult to imagine a scenario in which they will not be significantly and negatively impacted if the President’s budget were enacted.”

According to Meals on Wheels, 1 in 6 seniors struggle with hunger. The annual cost to feed a senior enrolled in the program is $2,765, or roughly the cost of staying in the hospital for just one day.

Mick Mulvaney, President Trump’s budget chief, said that the funding cuts are occurring because the Community Development Block grant program is “just not showing any results.”

The proposed Meals on Wheels Cuts sparked outrage on Twitter with the hashtag #LetThemDie trending as a response.

Trump wants to cut $3mil from #MealsOnWheels. In other news, it costs taxpayers $3mil for one Trump trip to Florida. POTUS says #letThemDie

— Paul McKinney (@PaulMcKinneyLA) March 16, 2017

#LetThemDie @msnbc @arimelber Let's tell Trump to "Skip a Trip"; cost of one trip to MiraLago = cost of his budget cut to Meals on Wheels.

— Karen LeFevre (@KBLVT) March 16, 2017

But the most powerful tweet came from a senior who reportedly would be impacted without Meals on Wheels.

“I’d go without a meal if it weren’t for Meals on Wheels,” a message written on a paper plate read.

The impact of @Mealsonwheelspa @_MealsOnWheels @MOWSFL @NoSeniorHungry @MealsOnWhlsRoch @MOWLehighCounty @MCMealsonWheels @mcall pic.twitter.com/prVv1DBG2E

— Meals On Wheels NC (@Mealsonwheelspa) March 20, 2017

There is a silver lining to the proposed Meals on Wheels cuts. Since the budget was released, Meals on Wheels has seen a spike in donations — with over $50,000 received on Thursday.

For those looking to make a donation, visit the Meals on Wheels website.