Even though the fiscal calendar year for many of our programs is different than the regular calendar year, now still seems like a good time to look back on the past year and look forward to another new year.

Last year:

— 5,230 senior citizens attended our senor centers for services and/or activities.

—74,974 congregate meals were served to 702 seniors.

— 134,405 home delivered meals were served to 900 homebound clients.

— 17,599 hours of homemaker aide services were provided to 394 senior citizens.

— 2,533 hours of personal care services were provided to 54 senior citizens.

— 4,147 hours of respite care services were provide to 158 senior citizens.

— 7,240 hours of adult day care services were provided to 29 families.

No matter how you consider it, that’s an impressive record of service for any 12-month period.

Still, with cuts in state funding amid these very difficult economic times, it’s probably unreasonable to expect status quo to remain in effect.

One of our programs — homemaker aide services — is facing some funding struggles. We are in the process of visiting many of our homemaker aide clients to better determine what their needs are. The bottom line is we want to insure that the people who most need this service continue to receive it.

One area that we’ve worked hard to maintain is the suggested donations for home-delivered and congregate meals ($3) or homemaker aide services ($5 an hour). While these donations, at least for the time being, are remaining unchanged, this would be a good time to ask those who can afford it to pitch in even more in order to help those who may not be so fortunate.

Every donation for meals is used to purchase food, and donations for the homemaker aide program are used to provide even more hours of service.

Now would probably be a good time to remind everyone not to give tips or payments to meal runners or homemaker aides. Instead, use the envelopes provided by MDSCAA.

Other reminders: those receiving meals or homemaker services MUST be at home when the meal is delivered or while the homemaker aide is present. Drivers and aides cannot go into an unoccupied home.

It takes many caring and dedicated people to provide all the services we do in one year. With demands that never seem to cease amid receiving less funds from the state, it’s important you understand what our needs and requirements are in order to keep the wheels running as smoothly as possible.

  Thanks for your understanding. Hope your new year is a happy one.