Photo: Meals on Wheels
A Maine Community Foundation (MaineCF) donor is easing the effects of rising food and fuel by offsetting costs of meal deliveries to homebound individuals.
The donor-advised Home Care for Maine Fund this month awarded a total $28,300 to Maine’s five Area Agencies on Aging across the state. The funds will provide $50 gas cards to assist each of their Meals on Wheels volunteers.
Meals on Wheels relies on volunteer drivers who pay for gas out of their own pockets and are reimbursed the state rate of 45 cents per mile. Some drivers have quit volunteering until gas prices drop or the reimbursement rate increases, the Bangor Daily News reported.
Inflation is the highest it’s been in four decades, and the effects of sanctions on Russia have pushed gas prices to a statewide average of $4.186, compared with $3.558 just one month ago.*
“MaineCF is pleased that the grants through the Home Care for Maine Fund will alleviate some financial burden to Meals on Wheels programs across the state,” said Laura Lee, MaineCF director of grantmaking.
*Figures reported on March 23, 2022.
