US Federal Stimulus Money For Seniors

The US Federal Stimulus Program is intended to bring the economy out of recession.  That part of it going to seniors provides basic necessities such as meals as well since this sector of the population is hard hit in these belt-tightening times.

In New Jersey,  $2.8 million is going for senior nutrition programs.  

The money is part of $100 million being made available for senior nutrition services nationwide by the U.S. Administration on Aging.  New Jersey’s Senior Nutrition Program currently delivers 6 million meals to 63,000 seniors each year.  Of the 2.8 million in federal funds, two-thirds will go toward nutrition programs. The other third will be spent on home delivered meals for frail elderly persons.

The same is happening in other US states as well.  On Wednesday, word was that Pennsylvania was to get $4 million in federal funding for seniors while $1.5 million for nutrition programs would be released to aid Minnesota seniors.  The money from the Department of Health and Human Services will cover nutrition services at senior centers and community centers, home delivered meals to seniors and Native American nutrition programs.

Vice President Joe Biden said in a statement. “The Recovery Act will help ensure older Americans are not forced to choose between paying bills and buying food.”

The Meals on Wheels program is important to seniors hard hit by the recession. Shrinking budgets and rising transportation costs are making it hard for seniors to get the nutritious meals they need. Such funds will help to prevent drastic cuts to these essential programs.

This is all part of the total $ 1.2 trillion recovery program that the US government has put in place.  It is interesting and somewhat ironic to compare this $100 million for seniors  with the dollar values in the other major news item this week:

AIG Bonuses
The $165 million was payable to executives and was part of a larger total payout reportedly valued at $450 million. The company has benefited from more than $170 billion in a federal rescue.  AIG reported that it had lost $61.7 billion for the fourth quarter of last year, which is the largest corporate loss in history.

It’s certainly time for change.