Local Town Looks To Cut Senior Citizens Food Program

As we get closer to the end of 2025, the year has been get for some Americans and pretty rough for others.

As the federal government shutdown continues and more services for the people who need assistance the most start going away, people have needed to turn to local foundations, non-profits, and charities to be able to get by day to day. With the shutdown of critical human services like HEAP, WIC, Food Stamps, and more, it's been the local non-profits and governments who have been stepping into the gap that the federal government has created.

However, not all of the help has been equally distributed, and according to a potential change in one of Buffalo's largest suburbs, there may be more vulnerable Western New Yorkers needing to seek such help for their next meal.

Cheektowaga Seeks To Reduce Meals On Wheels Program For Seniors

Dating back to World War II in the United Kingdom, the Meals on Wheels program has been around for more than 70 years, helping to provide food for people who are homebound and have a hard time being able to get out to get proper food, or be able to afford it.

In Western New York, Feedmore WNY operates the Meals on Wheels program in Cheektowaga, New York, which provides nutritious, delicious food, clients enjoy conversations and companionship for people all over the town (and region). However, according to a new budget proposed by the Cheektowaga Town Council, this key program that helps sustain poor seniors may be getting a huge cut in funding.

WKBW-TV has reported on how the Town's Republican majority is seeking to cut funding for this program from $57,000 per year to $27,000 annually. More than 25% of Cheektowaga's population is age 60 or older, and this cut may have a massive impact on citizens of the town.

With key services being cut on the national level, it's more important that our cities, towns, villages, and counties step up to help; however, it seems that the Buffalo area's position as the City of Good Neighbors doesn't extend across the whole region.