Donation Helps Meals On Wheels

PRAIRIE GROVE — A family who asked to remain anonymous has made a generous donation to the Lincoln and Prairie Grove senior centers to help make up for federal budget cuts.

Tina Batlle, interim director in Lincoln, said she was grateful for the gift and wanted to express a public thank you to the family.

“It took a load off and gave us a breather,” Batlle said. “I am absolutely grateful and this means we won’t have that major budget crunch.”

Lincoln received a $12,000 donation and the money will be used to benefit the center’s Meals on Wheels program, Batlle said.

Linda Willkie, director of the Prairie Grove Senior Activity and Wellness Center, said the donor read about the budget cuts in the Enterprise-Leader and wanted to help. Prairie Grove received a donation of about $6,000, Willkie said.

“It’s just a wonderful way to start the new year’s budget,” Willkie said. “We don’t have to turn anyone away.”

Senior centers in Arkansas lost funding for the fiscal year beginning July 1 because of across-the-board federal spending cuts, called sequestration. Lincoln’s budget was cut by $11,504 and Prairie Grove’s budget was reduced by more than $5,000.

Willkie and Batlle both had been concerned at how the federal budget cuts would affect their Meals on Wheels programs.

Senior centers in Arkansas receive state and federal funding but also are required to raise part of their budgets through donations, activities and fundraising events. Prairie Grove’s annual budget is about $100,000 and the center has to raise $40,000 of that total. Lincoln’s annual budget is $156,379 and the center is responsible for raising $83,000 of that total.