Commissioner Todd Staples Awards More Than $9 Million to Home-Delivered Meal Providers
Funds to Provide More Meals to Additional Homebound Texans

Austin – Commissioner Todd Staples announced today the Texas Department of Agriculture is awarding approximately $9.5 million to almost 100 agencies that serve meals to homebound elderly and those with special needs. The grants are provided through TDA’s new Texans Feeding Texans: Home-Delivered Meal Grant Program.

“The season of giving may be over, but the need to give continues,” Commissioner Staples said. “We need to do everything in our power to make sure our seniors and Texans with special needs never go hungry. This funding will help fill the stomachs and hearts of people who aren’t looking for a hand out – just a helping hand.”

The Texans Feeding Texans: Home-Delivered Meal Grant Program is a result of House Bill 407, passed during the 80th Legislative Session. The bill was created to give extra funding to home-delivered meal providers for 2008 and 2009. The grants, based partly on the number of meals eligible applicants served this past year, can only be used to supplement and expand existing services related to the delivery of meals.

“This grant program is critical to assuring a better quality of life for some of our most vulnerable citizens. The Texas Department of Agriculture is doing a great job of partnering with providers to fulfill an obligation we have to protect our seniors,” Rep. Warren Chisum, R-Pampa, co-author of the bill, said.

“The home-delivered meal program keeps people out of institutional care and in the comfort of their own homes. This saves taxpayers money and gives seniors and those with special needs an opportunity to live where they are secure, happy and healthy,” bill co-author Sen. Kirk Watson, D-Austin, said.

“Home-delivered meal agencies have provided an amazing service to Texas, feeding in excess of five million meals annually to hungry residents; but they’ve not been able to do so alone,” Commissioner Staples said. “These agencies have depended on private donations to operate, and while the Texas Department of Agriculture is honored to be a public partner this year and next, the demand for home-delivered meals will continue, and so will the need for private contributions.”

For more information on this program and how to apply, visit the Texas Department of Agriculture Web site and search “home-delivered meal grant program.”

Vinsen Faris with Commissioner Todd Staples, and other local Meals on Wheels executives from Parker, Erath, Dallas & Tarrant Counties.	Commissioner Todd Staples

All TDA press releases are also available via the Internet at www.tda.state.tx.us.