Rising Gas Prices Are Hurting Nonprofits

Gas prices are not only hurting millions financially but it may be costing some seniors their lives.

As gas prices rise to astronomical heights—the average price per gallon of gas costs $4, a record—and consumers get hit with high grocery bills, some of the nation's most defenseless people are left to fight a losing battle: Against hunger. While there is always a war against hunger, rising fuel and food prices have only exacerbated the situation.

This situation is clearly seen in nonprofit food delivery programs to homebound seniors such as Meals On Wheels. In these programs, oft-time volunteers deliver meals to the elderly, typically by driving—and paying for the gas—their own vehicles. Nowadays, volunteers are finding it harder to fund the delivery.

The MOWAA has seen a 58% loss in volunteers due to the gas prices alone. Dealing with the loss of volunteers, "our programs have to cut back on everything," says Enid Borden, President and CEO of Meals On Wheels Association of America. Now, "sometimes volunteers are only able to go out once a week or once every other week," says Borden.

The one meal a day can turn into no meals a day or a meal and frozen dinners for additional days. Now 4 out of 10 seniors sit on a wait list hoping to be one of the million to receive a warm meal.

Meals are not the only thing no longer being delivered. Also, there's reduced human contact for seniors who are commonly considered "shut-ins." The loss of volunteers who consistently provide a friendly "Hello" and check in can be devastating. One Meals On Wheels program that began condensing meal deliveries  was informed of two senior citizens left dead for as many as seven days.