ICYMI – WCAX: “Hassan says Trump cuts will strain Meals on Wheels”

LEBANON – In case you missed it, Senator Hassan visited the Upper Valley Senior Center in Lebanon to help package and deliver meals to Granite Staters. Meals on Wheels of Grafton County provides nutritious meals to more than 8,000 seniors and other adults across the county. During her visit, Senator Hassan highlighted the ways in which recent cuts to SNAP and other hunger-prevention programs in the Republican budget bill signed into law by President Trump will put additional strain on community programs like Meals on Wheels, which are already overstretched, as they try to keep up with increased need for services.

Read more from WCAX here or below:

WCAX: Hassan says Trump cuts will strain Meals on Wheels

By Adam Sullivan

Seniors in the Upper Valley had a special lunchtime guest on Thursday. New Hampshire Sen. Maggie Hassan delivered Meals on Wheels in Lebanon to draw attention to future cuts to nutrition assistance programs.

Every day, dozens of Meals on Wheels are delivered to residents throughout the Upper Valley. Thursday, Hassan helped hand them out.

With a wagonful of fresh meals in tow, Hassan brought lunch to residents of Lebanon’s Rogers House.

[...]

Hassan says it’s an opportunity for her to thank volunteers at the Grafton County Senior Center who help coordinate the program.

“It’s also a really good chance to see the impact that the program makes on seniors all over New Hampshire,” said Hassan, D-New Hampshire.

She says future cuts to nutrition programs, signed into law by President Trump, will have an impact.

“Right now, through the end of the fiscal year, it’s business as usual. Different cuts take effect at different points of time. But, you know, it continues to be concerning because programs have to plan ahead,” Hassan said.

[...]

“There are a lot of different funding streams that we pursue to fill that gap. But as prices increase and the cost of doing business goes up, it’s more and more challenging,” Vasconcelos said.

It’s something Hassan was also highlighting as she handed out meals to thankful recipients.

“Yeah, very nice of her,” Blish said. “I like that.”

This is not the first time Hassan has delivered Meals on Wheels. However, she says this is the first time she has delivered them with this much uncertainty around the program.

###