HANCOCK, MI— Houghton County has a proposal for 1 mill over four years for elder nutrition services on the August ballot.
Kathleen Harter is program director at Copper Shores Meals on Wheels. She says Houghton and Keweenaw counties are two of only five counties in the state that do not have a millage for such services.
She says if the millage passes, Meals on Wheels will use the funds to address the current 30- to 70-person waiting list; create “Meet and Eat” sites in the township for those who can drive who want to get out and socialize; and find a way to distribute meals to those in rural areas who can’t get to Meet and Eat sites.
Harter says Meals on Wheels doesn’t only deliver food, it functions as a wellness check.
“Sometimes the only person that senior might see for days or sometimes even weeks is that meal delivery driver, or maybe only the Postal Service. So, those check-ins, those contacts are really important, just to see how the person’s doing.”
Harter says as the country’s population ages and as residents give up driving—especially in rural areas—elder nutrition services will be needed more than ever.
The millage would raise $1,237,399.25 in the first year. The consolidated election is Tuesday, August 5.
