Updates
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Thank You to Coalition Members and Legislative Leaders
In a difficult budget year, the Senior Meals & Services Coalition did not achieve its hoped-for legislative outcomes. Nevertheless, the Coalition laid important groundwork for future support. As you will recall, the Coalition asked the Minnesota Legislature for crucial support for older adults in the 2025 session: The final Health and Human Services bill passed
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Legislative Action on Senior Meals Funding
The Senior Meals & Services Coalition placed a critical funding request before the legislature this year. Programs providing meals and other services for older adults are severely underfunded across the state and therefore do not meet the needs of Minnesota’s oldest residents. The original funding request was for $11 million in nutrition funds and an
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Star Tribune Article Raises Threat of Seniors Going Hungry
An article by James Walsh, reporter for the Minnesota Star Tribune published on April 18, 2025, helps to illuminate the dire situation facing senior nutrition programs. The article notes that funding is not keeping up with the growing need and many vulnerable older adults may lose access to meals essential to their well-being. According to
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Take Action for Senior Meals
Where we are The House and Senate Human Services Omnibus bills have passed out of committee. The House bill includes a $3,076 million one-time appropriation for FY 2026-27 for senior nutrition (HF 2212) — about 1/3 of our original request. The Senate bill includes a minimal ongoing appropriation for senior nutrition, totaling $250,000 per biennium. Our request to
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Meals on Wheels: Giving and Receiving
Meal programs in rural Minnesota are at risk. Catholic Charities Senior Dining announced earlier this year that they will no longer offer frozen meals in several rural locations. Reductions in funding received through a contract with the Central Minnesota Council on Aging mean they will serve 108,000 fewer meals in 2025 than in 2024. Besides
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Let’s Get Started!
Thank you for being a part of the coalition to secure funding for meals and services for older adults. As you know, we have a short window to achieve our funding goals during the 2025 Minnesota Legislative session. This is your call to action. The Ask The coalition is asking legislators to support older adults
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Welcome to Senior Meals & Services Coalition
The Senior Meals & Services Coalition has launched this website to advocate for passing legislation in support of older adults in the 2025 Minnesota legislative session. We hope you will help with the effort. Older Minnesotans are counting on you! Visit the website frequently for updates or join our email list to get updates in