Delivering Hope: Rolling Forward Together

A word from our friend John Anderson (in the barn on the right in the photo below), Meals on Wheels Volunteer & Coordinator

Florence is ninety-five and lives alone. When she learned about the proposed federal cuts to Meals on Wheels, she said softly, “I can’t believe they were going to take Meals on Wheels away from us. A lot of people depend on that.”

She’s right. Meals on Wheels isn’t just food—it’s care, connection, and dignity. It’s the reassurance that someone still remembers, still checks in, and still cares if you’re okay.

When we learned that federal funding for the program would be reduced by 80%, my heart sank. Without help, Highlands Community Ministries would have had to remove 35 homebound seniors from weekly deliveries.

Thanks to quick action at both the city and state levels, Meals on Wheels continues – for now. Mayor Craig Greenberg’s administration covered the first quarter of our fiscal year, and after advocacy from across Kentucky, Governor Beshear’s team identified state funds to support senior meal programs through June 2026.

That’s a huge relief, but those dollars are temporary. A bridge, not a rebuild. After June, there’s still a gap to fill: about $22,500 to carry Meals on Wheels through September and ensure every senior continues receiving care.

I started volunteering because I wanted to make a difference. Now I know the people we serve by name. They could be my parents or grandparents. They could be yours.

If you believe no senior in Louisville should face hunger or loneliness, please join the Friendly Neighbor Society, HCM’s monthly giving circle. Your ongoing support of $10 or more will keep Meals on Wheels rolling through next fall and beyond. Join The Friendly Neighbor Society here.

Because when we stop feeding our neighbors, we lose more than a meal. We lose who we are.