Arizona lawmakers are scrambling to approve a state budget within three weeks, but draft proposals include slashing the Tempe Community Action Agency’s Meals on Wheels funding by up to 60%.. if enacted, the cuts would strip thousands of low‑income seniors of daily meals and vital social contact, according to agency officials.

Up to 60% Funding Reduction Targets Tempe Meals on Wheels

Bob Branstetter, director of programs at the Tempe Community Action Agency, told reporters that legislators have warned the agency to prepare for reductions ranging from 20% to as high as 60%. the agency runs the local Meals on Wheels service, which delivers food and conducts welfare checks for hundreds of isolated seniors.

Senior Resident Carla Mollica Says She’d Resort to Cat Food

One recipient, Carla Mollica, warned that without the program she would be forced to eat cat food, underscoring how essential the deliveries are for her survival. mollica’s statement reflects the broader reliance of vulnerable elders on the service for both nutrition and daily human interaction.

Budget Deadline of June 8 Triggers Uncertainty

Arizona Senate Republicans announced on June 8 that they have tentatively reached a budget deal, but the specifics of social‑serivce funding remain vague. the state faces a deadline of just over three weeks to pass a budget and avoid a government shutdown, yet no agreement on the Meals on Wheels cuts has been confirmed.

Rising Gas Prices Complicate Volunteer Recruitment

Branstetter also highlighted that soaring gasoline prices are making it harder to recruit volunteers for delivery routes,meaning the program alerady operates on a thin margin. A funding cut would exacerbate these logistical challenges, potentially forcing the agency to scale back service areas.

Who Will Fill the Funding Gap?

According to the report, no alternative funding sources have been identified, and the agency has been urged to prepare for severe budget shortfalls.. The lack of a clear backup plan leaves seniors at risk of losing a critical safety net.