Durbin Announces Over $3.7 Million to Provide Meals to Illinois Seniors
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] – Assistant Senate Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced that Illinois will receive $3,770,526 in funding from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act to provide meals to thousands of low-income seniors in need. Today’s funding will also assist communities and the national aging services network in restoring nutrition services that have been cut and restoring positions which may have been eliminated or reduced. The funding is distributed as follows:
• $2,526,641 for congregated nutrition services that promote better physical and mental health for older adults and adults with disabilities through nutritious meals and activities that encourage socialization;
• $1,243,885 for home-delivered nutrition services which allow older adults to stay in their home and community and avoid or delay costly institutionalization.
Nationally, the Recovery Act provides $65 million for congregate nutrition services provided at senior centers and other community sites, $32 million for meals delivered to frail elders at home and $3 million for Native American meals. The funding will be awarded to 56 states and territories and 246 tribes and Native Hawaiian organizations. States will award the funds to organizations that provide nutrition services in their communities.