AUSTIN - Agriculture Commissioner Todd Staples announced on Jan. 28 the Texas Department of Agriculture is awarding approximately $10 million to almost 200 agencies that serve meals to homebound elderly and disabled Texans. The grants are provided through TDA's Texans Feeding Texans: Home-Delivered Meal Grant Program and are funded by the Texas Legislature.
"In these tough economic times, this program makes it possible for home-delivered meal providers to expand their services and feed more hungry Texans," Commissioner Staples said. "Texas ranks third in the nation for food insecurity, meaning one in five adults and one in four children in our state are hungry, and that is simply unacceptable. With an ever-growing number of seniors and a challenging economy, we must take care of those who spent much of their lives taking care of us."
The Texans Feeding Texans: Home-Delivered Meal Grant Program is a result of House Bill 407, passed during the 80th Session of the Texas Legislature. 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 the year prior to applying, can only be used to supplement and expand existing services related to the delivery of meals.
Meals on Wheels, Inc. of Tarrant County is receiving $1.6 million - the largest amount in the state.
"Meals On Wheels, Inc. of Tarrant County is truly grateful to the Texas Department of Agriculture for administering the Texans Feeding Texans program," Carla Jutson, executive director of Meals on Wheels, Inc. of Tarrant County said. "We were able to serve 320,651 additional meals in 2008 utilizing this new source of funding. Many of our clients rely solely on Meals On Wheels for their daily nutrition, and this funding enabled us to provide breakfast meals, in addition to lunch, for these clients who are significantly at risk of hunger, food insecurity and malnutrition."
"Texans Feeding Texans is also an investment," Commissioner Staples said. "By providing food to elderly Texans in their own homes, which helps maintain their independence, this grant program saves about $30,000 in tax dollars annually for each senior who depends on state-supported services. I want to thank the legislators who approved this critical funding that enables us to assist Texans who need a helping hand."
Last year, TDA awarded $9.5 million to home-delivered meal providers who served 8.4 million meals statewide, an increase of 15 percent from the previous year. In 2009, TDA will award almost 200 grants, totaling $10 million. For more information on this program or for a complete list of recipients, visit the Texans Feeding Texans: Home-Delivered Meal Grant Program Web site.
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