Senior citizen advocates: Protect Pa. lotto fund, support meal programs

Feb. 26—HARRISBURG — Advocates for senior citizens urged state lawmakers to protect the commonwealth's Lottery Fund during a House committee hearing about food insecurity among older Pennsylvanians.

Luann Oatman, a board director with Meals on Wheels Pennsylvania, urged members of the House Aging & Older Adult Services Committee to maintain the Lottery Fund to benefit older Pennsylvanians.

Oatman helps administer the Meals on Wheels program in Berks County where, she said, about 15 new referrals are made daily since the start of 2024. The average is higher than normal.

"By now, we would see those calls dropping off," Oatman said. "It's just not happening."

Oatman expressed worry about the future state and potential uses of the Lottery Fund, citing a pending movement to regulate the skill games industry which is seen as a lottery competitor and could eat into sales. A recent analysis by the Independent Fiscal Office shows revenues trending down for daily numbers and scratch-off tickets.

All lottery proceeds fund senior services — Pennsylvania Lottery boasts itself as the only program in the nation to do so — including property tax and rent rebates, transportation subsidies, low-cost prescription medication and senior centers.

Net revenues are estimated to grow from $1.8 billion in fiscal 2025 to more than $2 billion in fiscal 2029, according to the governor's latest budget proposal.

"I'm very passionate about the folks we serve and the fact they're behind shuttered windows, closed drapes, closed doors and you don't see them. What we don't see sometimes doesn't exist. It's easy to forget. Let's not forget those people and let's protect the lottery funds to the very highest extent as much as possible," Oatman said.

According to Meals on Wheels, nearly 445,500 senior citizens in Pennsylvania experience food insecurity — about 13% of all state residents age 60 and above.

Karen Wood, a board director with Meals on Wheels Pennsylvania, said affiliated programs including those who don't use the Meals on Wheels name feed anywhere from 25 to 1,600 people at each meal provided. Programs generally deliver five meals each week — hot meals, frozen meals, shelf-stable foods and cold bag lunches.

Citing a program survey, Wood said 77% of clients say the program improves their health and 90% say the program helps them live independently in their own homes.

Budget impasses, real or threatened, have caused financial anxieties in many programs, Wood said.

"Many programs are experiencing cuts in government funding. Donations by individuals and corporations are down and grant funding has become more competitive with lower or flat awards while the cost to make or purchase and deliver the meals has been consistently on the rise as has the number of seniors in need of services," Wood said.

Volunteers don't just deliver food, Wood said. They visit clients in their homes and in doing so, can report irregularities or concerning observations that could lead to additional assistance that might otherwise go ignored.

"I've heard you say this is a moral imperative and I couldn't agree more," Rep. Dan Williams, D-Chester, said.