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Dear Editor,
I have recently become aware of a serious situation facing many local citizens that is a cause for great communitywide concern.
The Senior Citizen Program that serves over 2000 monthly meals to vulnerable elderly in both Wharton and Colorado counties is in peril of permanently closing in January of 2025. The program is currently run out of Room 112 in the LaDieu Technology Center at Wharton County Junior College campus and offers congregate meals, runs the Meals on Wheels program to homebound seniors, hosts social events and activities in the Senior Center, provides educational programs, health screenings, vital senior care information, and assistance with local transportation.
Due to funding deficits that stem from the Covid crisis and rising inflation, the program finds itself increasingly unable to remain solvent. This is a serious situation for many senior citizens at a particularly challenging economic time as many of these seniors rely on the program for their everyday physical and mental health. Investigating the impact of closure, I asked the seniors in the Wharton center about their perspectives.
There were fifteen respondents to my inquiry ranging in age from 75 to 96 and all were greatly distressed at the potential loss of this program. The average length of participation in the program was 7 years with several respondents indicating that they had been dependent on the program for over ten years for both food and socialization.
Phyllis Richardson, 81, of Wharton, said she was suffering from depression and isolation when she started coming to the Senior Center. Her time spent in the program has been a healing one, both mentally and physically as she has received vital nutrients and companionship. Her concern about the closure of the center and the program is that not only will her depression return with a greatly reduced social interactions, but that her nutrition will decline dramatically.
Frankie, 88, of Wharton, echoed the sentiments of many respondents saying the idea of the center closing is “very sad”. Several seniors expressed grave concerns about their ability to have enough food to eat if the program shuts down and almost all of them referred to the program’s educational aspects as beneficial.
In an interview, Ms. Elida Perez, 79, of Wharton said she remembers “Ms. LaDieu building this place for us, so the senior citizens would have something to do… I would appreciate it if y’all could keep it going for us senior because there’s no place for us to go. I enjoy coming here and having fellowship with the people, eating and playing bingo.” A widow of over 9 years, responded anonymously to my inquiry with an insightful take, “I was so blessed that we have a Senior Program here that I can come to for fellowship, meals, activities, and just have someone to talk with.
The four walls at home don’t talk and it’s easy to get depressed… We share feelings, laughter, and problems and go home with a new lease on life. If we lose this program, then where in Wharton can senior citizens go? This would be absolutely devastating to me, our senior citizens, and Wharton.” Her response is a telling one that reveals how vital this program is to so many people in the community.
Those seniors that are homebound in the Meals on Wheels program and those that participate in the Colorado county service area for meals will be catastrophically impacted by the food insecurity should the program close, as well. Will anyone stand up for the seniors in Wharton and Colorado counties?
Concerned about the seniors,
Apryl Simpson
