The Jackson County Senior Citizens Center sounded the alarm after the Kentucky Department for Aging informed agencies that home-delivered meal funding is
being slashed immediately, forcing drastic cuts to services for some of the county’s
most vulnerable residents.
For more than a year, senior centers across Kentucky were directed by the state and Cumberland Valley Area Development District (CVADD) were instructed to clear waiting lists and provide meals to every eligible senior, with assurances that funding would follow.
Now, with federal COVID-19 funding expiring and state dollars reduced, the center has been told to return to its previous budget levels.
Policy Changes Behind the Cuts
In a May 2024 letter, CVADD told agencies that DAIL expected waiting lists to be cleared and promised to seek additional providers to meet the increased demand. But a September 2025 memorandum from the Department for Aging and Independent Living revealed that federal pandemic relief dollars expired on September 30, and future funding will be lower. Agencies were instructed to prioritize those with the highest nutritional need and reduce costs by tightening meal programs, including possibly eliminating drive-thru and emergency meals.
Community and Local Efforts
In response, the Jackson County Fiscal Court stepped in with a financial contribution of $18,000 out of their LGEA funds to support meals through December 2025.
Jackson County Senior Citizens’ Center Director Anne Deaton posted on social media,
“Hot Meals to start going back out to some of the most vulnerable elderly in Jackson County on Tuesday, October 7th! Elders served will be determined by the recommendations listed from the state. As we move forward, our goal, of course, is to get all the elderly who lost their meals started back. We are optimistic that, as more funding becomes available from the community and other resources, we can reach this goal. Thank you to each individual, business, organization, group, church, agency or persons that helped get us to this point. The JC Senior Center and all the staff thanks you for your continued support and concern regarding our elderly of Jackson County.”
How Residents Can Help
The Senior Citizens Center is calling on residents to contact state and federal officials to voice their concerns about the cuts. They’ve provided the following numbers for citizens to call:
Governor Andy Beshear: 502-564-2611
Sen. Robert Stivers: 502-564-3120
Congressman Hal Rogers: 606-679-8346
Rep. Timmy Truett: 502-564-8100
Sen. Mitch McConnell: 606-864-2026
Community members can also contact the Jackson County Senior Citizens Center for help making these calls.
Donations can be made directly to:
JACKSON COUNTY SENIOR CENTER
PO BOX 126
1035 McCAMMON RIDGE ROAD
MCKEE, KY 40447
Every dollar stays local to support meal services for Jackson County’s elderly.
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