Countywide : Nutrition Program for Seniors Seeks to Avoid Cuts

Ventura County’s nutrition program for senior citizens, faced with budget constraints, may be forced to use volunteers instead of paid drivers to deliver meals to shut-ins next year.

The $1.4-million-a-year operation has already cut back and consolidated the services that it provides to 3,000 senior citizens a year, said Violet Henry, program administrator.

To help make ends meet, the program’s advisory council recently received nonprofit charitable status. The designation will help the council raise more funds to supplement the money that the program gets from federal, state and local governments, as well as donations.

Henry said the Senior Nutrition Advisory Council has several fund-raising events lined up, including a dance in November, special dinners, a silent auction and candy sales. The tax-exempt status will also enable the council to seek grants.

She said the council hopes to raise $3,500 to replace old delivery equipment and provide funds to subsidize delivery.

The organization meets monthly in Camarillo. Anyone interested in becoming a member should call Henry at 388-4316.

The Ventura County Public Social Services Agency Senior Nutrition Program was established in 1974, at the same time that the advisory council was formed. But the group has only become involved in fund-raising

activities in the last two years.

“Funding was pretty good through 1985,” she said. “But there have been no increases in funding the last several years.”

During that time, salary costs for the program’s 32 full-time employees have gone up, in addition to food and transportation costs. Meanwhile, clients have increased.

“We used to do 300 home deliveries, but now we do 400,” she said.

The program has 12 senior dining centers countywide where senior citizens come for a noon meal Mondays through Fridays. Meals are delivered five days a week to homebound senior citizens.