Local Meals On Wheels program taking a hit due to gas prices

Everyone knows prices at the gasoline pump are taking a bigger chunk out of their budget these days.

The average American household spent $368.09 a month on gasoline in April , up from $173.80 in 2009, according to the Oil Price Information Service.

Meals On Wheels Association of America is feeling the pinch, too, so much so that its headquarters in Alexandria, Va., said it may have to scale back its coverage area.

In the Las Vegas Valley, Meals On Wheels is doing all it can to maintain its commitment to seniors on the program. There are roughly 1,300 on the Las Vegas roster, 120 in the Summerlin area. One of the Meals O n Wheels clients is Hazel Mack, a retiree who lives on Social Security. Mack worked for AT&T for 26 years.

"I don't get out often," Mack said. "I have bad knees and a bad back. It's nice for me to get the meals."

Her favorites are broccoli soup, ranch chicken and oatmeal with peaches, she said, "but it gets a little redundant after a while."

Mack receives her delivery each Tuesday and is on a first-name basis with the driver, Mason, whom she called nice and very pleasant. Sometimes he checks her freezer to see how much food she has.

The seven meals are intended to take the place of one meal a day and last a week.

"It saves me a little money," Mack said. "It leaves me with only two meals to worry about."

She said if gas prices ever lead to her being cut from the program, "It would really hurt, being on a limited income ... There's no money for any extras."

Local Meals O n Wheels administrators said they have no intention of dropping anyone from the roster.

"Once we take on a client, we provide services as long as they are needed … Sometimes services are only needed for a short time, such as recuperation following hospitalization, and sometimes services continue for the rest of the individuals' lives," said Leslie Carmine, director of communications for Catholic Charities of Southern Nevada, which administers the program. "Each service recipient's needs are evaluated at least once a year."

Meals On Wheels delivers food almost daily. It's cooked and flash-frozen at Catholic Charities' industrial-sized kitchen, 531 N. 30th St. An executive chef and registered dietitian have developed recipes that are diabetic-friendly, prepared on a rotation basis. The 14 meals -- penne with Italian sauce, turkey patty with vegetables, split pea soup -- are measured out into two-compartment, biodegradable trays and sealed with a clear film.

"They can cut a couple slits in them and pop them in the microwave, just like a TV dinner," said Mark Zellmer, intake and services manager, who oversees the program.

The program is on track to deliver roughly 473,200 meals this year. Four refrigerator trucks head out on their routes four days a week.

The charity already has cut gasoline expenses by switching to vehicles with refrigerator systems that work off batteries instead of the vehicle s' engines.

"They don't have to leave them (the trucks) running any more," Zellmer said.

But the specially outfitted trucks get a dismal 5 mpg .

"When I heard that, I went, 'Five? Are you sure?' " Carmine said. "We need to get hybrids."

Together, the four vehicles put 5,300 miles on their odometers each month and travel as far as Indian Springs, about 45 miles north of Las Vegas.

The high gas prices could not come at a worse time. Since the economy tanked in 2008, the program has seen donations from individuals and foundations decline as their own budgets felt the strain. Only the federal government's support has remained constant, supplying the local Meals O n Wheels program with an annual 501(c)(3) (nonprofit) grant of just over $1 million.

Jacob Bushey, operations manager, crunches the numbers at Catholic Charities. How critical is the situation?

"Hopefully, we don't get to a deficit situation," he said. "Instead of a 100-mile route, we may split the routes ... we're always looking to make adjustments to improve program efficiency."

One of the options it's considering is delivering two week's worth of meals instead of one week's at each stop.

According to a national survey conducted by Meals On Wheels Association of America, many Meals On Wheels programs nationwide are struggling due to the increase in the price of gas.

Nearly 80 percent of those Meals On Wheels programs that rely on volunteers to deliver food are seeing a drop in volunteers, which is attributed to the cost of gasoline. One program reported losing five volunteers in a single week, which is unprecedented in the program's history. The survey found that 25 percent of those programs had to reduce the number of meals they serve per week, and 67 percent believe their program will have to cut back on meal service if gas gets to the $4.50 to $5 range.

A recent USA Today/Gallup poll finds that 54 percent of Americans believe high gas prices are here to stay.

Here in Las Vegas, Meals O n Wheels does not use volunteers to deliver meals, but it does maintain its own fleet of trucks.

The Las Vegas Meals O n Wheels program plans to have two fund raising efforts this fall, such as an e mail blast, to appeal for funds.

It also offers a sponsorship program, matching a donor with a client, which puts a face to the program. Sponsorships run $730 and support a single client for a year.

"If gas prices continue to increase, $4 a gallon would really hurt the program," Bushey said.

For more information, visit catholiccharities.com and click on "services" or call 385-5284.

Contact Summerlin and Summerlin South View reporter Jan Hogan at jhogan@viewnews.com or 387-2979.