It's one of those situations where everybody wins -- people dependent on Meals on Wheels will once again get five days of meal delivery, Genesee ARC is able to expand the services it provides the county, and the county's budget won't be severely impacted.
On Monday, the Public Service Committee approved a contract with Genesee ARC to handle the Meals on Wheels program for the Office of Aging.
The cost to the county will be about the same -- $186,425 annually -- as the current program, which delivers meals only three days a week.
The new program will also deliver hot meals, instead of cold dishes.
"We think it will be a nice service for people, with the personal check for people and they get a nice hot meal," said Pam Whitmore, director of Office for the Aging.
The previous meal provider was the American Red Cross out of Rochester.
The cost works out to about the same because it was costing nearly a $1 per meal just for delivery of meals from Rochester. That $1 will now go toward increased service and improved meals.
The meals will be prepared by Genesee ARC staff and clients at its renovated facility at 38 Woodrow Road, Batavia.
Whitmore said one reason Genesee ARC won the contract is the organization's emphasis on customer service.
"Being part of Genesee County, they really wanted to do what was best for the people in the program," Whitmore said.
WBTA's Dan Fischer contributed to this story.
This is great news for both
This is great news for both the Meals on Wheels program and the ARC.