BRINNON — Brinnon seniors and volunteers were surprised and upset to learn their nutrition program will close after the last meal is served today, and the man who made the decision hopes the service can be restored.
“We always hold out hope that maybe we can find a solution,” said Tim Hockett, Olympic Community Action Program executive director, explaining what he called an “extremely difficult decision.”
“You can’t fight a war and help pay for two major hurricanes in the country and maintain the same level of services here.”
Gas and food prices, which contribute to soaring expenses to run the programs, are at the heart of matter, he said.
OlyCAP has racked up a $3,000 deficit across the North Olympic Peninsula system for nutrition programs — which serve food in community centers or senior centers — and is running a deficit of $20,000 for Meals on Wheels served across Jefferson and Clallam counties.
Hockett said that the Brinnon nutrition program serves only 12 people each day, on average, and has served as few as six a day, far below the break-even number of 30 daily.
That is the lowest attendance of any of the group’s nutrition programs in the two counties, Hockett said.
“The most remote sites are the least efficient,” Hockett said.
“It’s just a fact of the economy, and the difference of providing services to so few people in a remote location.”
The Brinnon community’s Meals on Wheels program, will now deliver frozen meals — instead of freshly cooked ones — to between 9 and 12 homebound seniors.
It will be maintained, Hockett said.
