Some seniors could go hungry this January as a popular meal delivery service will be coming to an end across many parts of Greater Victoria.

The United Way Southern Vancouver Island (UWSVI) is cutting funding for the More Than Meals program, saying it's not financially sustainable.

B次元官网网址淚'm devastated,B次元官网网址� said Ted Ross, 81, who along with his wife has been benefiting from James Bay New Horizons (JBNH) distribution of the More Than Meals program since April 2022. JBNH will deliver their last meals to seniors on Dec. 18. 

Ross uses a walker, and without the service will have to go back to cooking on his own meals, which he says will be a challenge. B次元官网网址淚 havenB次元官网网址檛 been cooking since two-and-a-half years ago when I was in the hospital. IB次元官网网址檓 so out of practice.B次元官网网址�  

More Than Meals aimed to provide nourishment and socialization to seniors through the delivery of three meals a week to their homes. It functioned on a sliding fee scale which helped to make it accessible. Since learning the program would end this year, Ross has been searching for alternative meal programs but says theyB次元官网网址檙e much more expensive than what he previously paid, leaving him with few options.  

It's not just Ross who leans on food resources, according to the throughout B.C., there has been a 78 per cent increase in the use of food banks among seniors in the past five years. 

It won't just be the food that heB次元官网网址檒l miss either, it's the company. B次元官网网址淚t's called More Than Meals because you get to chat with the person thatB次元官网网址檚 bringing them,B次元官网网址� said Ross. B次元官网网址淭he human contact, the social contact that's the B次元官网网址榤oreB次元官网网址� part of More Than Meals.B次元官网网址�  

This social aspect is a critical part of the program. Social isolation and loneliness have often been linked to higher risks of various conditions including high blood pressure, heart disease, obesity, depression, and cognitive decline. 

B次元官网网址淗ow many seniors are going into hospital because they're malnourished or dehydrated?B次元官网网址� said Kim Dixon, the executive director at JBNH.  

B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檓 sure that a majority of the seniors that are going into the hospital presenting as being delirious or having dementia, a lot of that is due to malnutrition. So, take care of them now or take care of them later, but somehow, weB次元官网网址檙e still going to have to contribute to their well-being.B次元官网网址�  

More Than Meals began during the COVID-19 pandemic to address the needs of seniors facing increased isolation and food insecurity by distributing three meals to clients once a week. The program functioned on a B次元官网网址榟ub-and-spoke modelB次元官网网址� with Beacon Community Services (BCS) as the central hub for the service, distributing meals in Sidney and the Saanich Peninsula. BCS also administered UWSVIs funding to contracted organizations JBNH, Oak Bay Volunteer Services, Saanich Volunteer Services and Pacific Centre Family Services Association to help distribute meals throughout Greater Victoria.  

Originally, JBNH and the other contractors served 175 seniors, but over the years as their funding dwindled, their clientele had to be reduced. Today, they are serving 135 seniors. Dixon said they receive calls almost every day asking about the service. B次元官网网址淲e know the need is there, unfortunately the funding isn't.B次元官网网址�

While UWSVI is disappointed to halt its funding, they say it would no longer be in the best interest of their donors.   

B次元官网网址淲e gave $250,000 for the 2024 fiscal year and midway through the year, they told us that they had already exhausted that,B次元官网网址� said Erik Lambertson, UWSVI director of marketing and communications. UWSVI did provide an emergency $35,000 and arranged for a special food grant of $27,000 from United Way British Columbia to keep the service running until Dec. 31, 2024.  

Beacon Community Services CEO Tricia Gueulette says the reason the funding was exhausted so quickly was due to the growing demand.  

B次元官网网址淭he need has been so great. So, weB次元官网网址檝e managed to keep it going and will continue to keep it going for as long as we can. But the need far outstripped what was available to us,B次元官网网址� said Gueulette, citing rising costs for making the program so expensive. 

BCS has committed to continuing to fund the program out of pocket until at least the end of January, while they search for new funding and consider how to keep the program going. However, they will no longer be able to fund the other agencies that distribute meals.  

B次元官网网址淥ur board has decided to spend Beacon's money to keep it going, they don't want to see our seniors without,B次元官网网址� said Gueulette. B次元官网网址淏eacon does not want to leave anyone in the lurch.B次元官网网址� 

Dixon says for JBNH to continue the program for just 75 seniors, it would cost between $150,000 and $175,000. JBNH and their partners will continue to look for new funding but arenB次元官网网址檛 sure they will get it. B次元官网网址淚n this day and age, I really donB次元官网网址檛 know,B次元官网网址� said Dixon, explaining that most grants available to her only provide $20,000 - $25,000.  

In the meantime, many seniors will be without the meals theyB次元官网网址檝e been relying on.  

B次元官网网址淚 rely on this service for a variety of food,B次元官网网址� said Tom Kershaw, 76, who lives with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and has been receiving meals from JBNH. Kershaw uses an oxygen tank and struggles to move on his own. He employs the help of caretakers and cooking at home is not an option for him. B次元官网网址淲ithout these people, I'll be lost. I'll lose weight. I need this service; I really need it.B次元官网网址�