Funding cuts, inflation, and SNAP freeze strain Meals on Wheels Central Texas

AUSTIN (KXAN) —  Meals on Wheels Central Texas announced that a combination of inflation, funding cuts, and a looming Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program cut-off has left the organization vulnerable. 

Earlier this month, Meals on Wheels San Antonio announced it would suspend home meal deliveries for hundreds of clients starting in November. Meals on Wheels of Central Texas said it has “moved funds around” to avoid cutting anyone off during the government shutdown, but said it cannot accept any new clients. 

“We have 35% more people asking [to enroll] every previous month, honestly, since [the COVID-19] pandemic,” said Henry Van de Putte, the President and CEO of Meals on Wheels of Central Texas. “While we've been able to grow with that number, with the recent cuts, with philanthropy cuts, with a drop in volunteerism, we've got to just put our arms around who we already serve.”

The nonprofit serves up to 2,500 people each day. About 15% – roughly 375 clients – receive two meals because of malnutrition, and about half all its clients are SNAP-eligible, Van de Putte said. If you would like to volunteer or donate, you can find out more here.

Van de Putte said if SNAP benefits are halted, the Meals on Wheels delivery could be the only meal some clients receive each day. He said the nonprofit would like to offer more, but current funding limits won’t allow it.

“We've seen a drop in all three levels [of government] over the last three years,” Van De Putte said. 

“At the federal level, funding has been stagnant for the last five years,” he continued. “At the same time, inflation is 3 to 4% overall, and 7 to 8% for food.”

Factoring in those costs, Van de Putte said the organization’s effective funding has dipped by about a third.

There is some relief on the way: H-E-B recently announced a $1 million donation to Meals on Wheels Texas, with about $100,000 earmarked for the Central Texas branch.

One of 2,500 clients who has relied on the organization for around a decade is Jeanie Hernandez. 

“This is one meal I wouldn’t have,” Hernandez said. “I’ll save it for the evening so I can eat and won’t go to bed hungry.” 

As a SNAP recipient, she said she is anxious about the coming weeks.

“Especially, this coming month, when the holidays are coming around, you look forward to your turkey and ham, and it's not going to happen,” Hernandez said.