At Marion County Senior Citizens, Inc., our mission has always been to empower seniors and enrich lives. Every day, our staff helps older adults throughout Marion County remain independent, healthy, and safe in their homes and communities.
But there is something we want our community to understand.
We have more seniors needing assistance than our current funding allows us to serve.
Whether it is congregate or home-delivered meals, in-home care, transportation, or other supportive services, the need continues to grow. Unfortunately, our funding does not always grow at the same pace.
One common misconception is that because we receive government funding, we have unlimited resources to serve everyone who qualifies. That simply isn’t the case.
Our programs are supported through a combination of federal funding, state funding, Medicaid reimbursement, grants, donations, and community partnerships. Each funding source has specific guidelines, approved budgets, eligibility requirements, and restrictions on how the money can be spent.
Much of our funding is provided on a reimbursement basis. This means we must first provide the service, pay the associated expenses, document what was provided, and submit the required reports before receiving reimbursement. We cannot simply continue adding clients when our approved funding and resources have already been committed.
Being eligible for a service does not necessarily mean there is funding available to provide that service immediately.
This is why waiting lists exist. They do not reflect our willingness to help. They reflect the growing needs of our community and the limitations of the funding available to meet those needs.
We want to be very clear about something:
MCSC is not asking for additional funding simply to grow an organization. We are asking for additional resources to meet an already demonstrated need in Marion County.
We are asking for the ability to serve the senior who is waiting for meals because they can no longer safely prepare food for themselves.
We are asking for the ability to help someone remain in their home rather than face the possibility of moving into a nursing facility because they cannot get the assistance they need.
We are asking for the ability to provide transportation to someone who has no other way to get to a medical appointment.
We are asking for the ability to say YES more often when a senior reaches out for help.
HERE IS WHERE YOU CAN HELP.
We encourage our community members, families, caregivers, and anyone who believes in supporting our older adults to contact their West Virginia state legislators.
Let them know that senior services matter. Ask them to support increased, adequate funding for senior nutrition programs, in-home care services, transportation, and other programs that allow older adults to maintain their independence and dignity.
These programs are not luxuries. They are essential services that help people remain in their homes, maintain their health, and continue living with dignity.
When funding falls short, real people feel the impact. They are our parents, grandparents, neighbors, friends, and the people who helped build the communities we enjoy today.
We cannot meet this growing need alone. We need our community’s support, and we need our legislators to understand that investing in senior services is an investment in the people who need us most.
Please take a few minutes to contact your state legislators. Let them know that Marion County’s seniors deserve the resources they need. Your voice can make a difference. https://www.wvlegislature.gov/
Thank you for standing with us, advocating for our seniors, and helping us continue our mission.