As Everfull continues to note a significant financial shortfall with providing the local Friendship Meals and Meals on Wheels programs, the South Central Kansas Area Agency on Aging (SCKAAA) shared the following statement last Thursday, June 5: “SCKAAA is aware of the financial challenges currently being experienced by Everfull, a vital service provider in the ten-county area we both serve.” The letter continued, “We deeply value the essential role Everfull plays in delivering meals and support to seniors in our region. These services are a critical lifeline for many and disruptions in these services can have serious consequences. SCKAAA remains committed to doing everything within our capacity to help ensure that these important services continue without interruption.
“While we are focused on meeting our own obligations to the communities we serve, we are closely monitoring the situation and remain in communication with relevant partners and stakeholders to try and resolve the current problems.” The letter concluded with, “We recognize the significance of Everfull’s work and are hopeful that we can work together to resolve these issues in a way that limits any distributions to the services our seniors receive.”
During a special community meeting last Wednesday, it was shared that although Everfull may no longer continue to provide the service, other agencies are working to ensure the meal service for local seniors continue in the 10-county area. It was noted that a small lapse in service may occur.
This response was sparked by a letter sent to staff by Everfull on May 22. The letter shared that the allocated budget that was to last through Sept. 30 of this year had been utilized and if a solution wasn’t reached, the essential service would be disrupted on July 1.
The 10 counties threatened for closure are Chautauqua, Cowley, Elk, Greenwood, Harper, Kingman, McPherson, Sumner, Reno and Rice. An average total of 94 meals are served in Greenwood County per day, with 68 of those being in Eureka. The Eureka location also preps the meals for Elk County, which averages 56 per day, for a total of 150 daily meals.
The Eureka Herald’s request for a copy of Everfull’s fiscal year budget, as well as funds needed to overcome the deficit; remained unanswered as of this week’s presstime.
