Drivers for Chenango County Area Agency on Aging stand next to one of the three recently purchased vehicles for meal deliveries. The fleet of new vehicles allows the agency freedom and less time constraint as they continue to expand delivery routes, reaching more elderly people in the community. (Submitted photo)

NORWICH — Chenango County Area Agency on Aging provides information and services to county residents 60 years or older and recently faced an upcoming dilemma with the end of their transportation contract.

Thousands of older adults may have gone without meals as home deliveries were questionable.

Chenango County Area Agency on Aging Director Heather Felter said they ended a lengthy contract for transportation of home delivered meals and congruent meal services in Chenango County.

“About a year ago, we started considering what we would do once the contract with public transit came to an end,” said Felter. “It was due to expire this year in April and we were looking at options to meet the needs of our community.”

“While using public transit we had several older adults we were not able to reach,” she said. “They were too far off the public transit route and in order for transit to back track to the homes and deliver meals, it would have been very costly for the agency.”

Felter said they realized an opportunity was available to use some of the COVID stimulus funding, so they met with state representatives from New York Office of Aging and requested the use of those funds to purchase vehicles to create their own delivery fleet.

“They said absolutely,” said Felter. “And we went through the process with the state office and were granted permission to purchase three vehicles.”