Volunteers with the Osceola Council on Aging gathered to deliver 500 meals to seniors like Iris Rondinella. She is 77 years old and lives along in Kissimmee.
"I thank God every single day that I get a meal," Rondinella said.
- Osceola Council on Aging concerned about funding
- Meals on Wheels program is vital to the community, agency says
- President Trump's proposed budget could cut funding
The group is advocating its hardest during March because it's the nationwide March for Meals campaign. The nonprofit has posted signs that read, "Save Meals on Wheels."
This year, however, there's even more of a push following President Donald Trump's proposed 2018 budget, which requests that about 18 percent be cut from the Department of Health and Human Services.
Meals on Wheels falls under that category.
"Any cuts to the Meals on Wheels program is going to be devastating," said Beverly Hougland, the CEO of the Osceola Council on Aging. "Because we use the federal money to help us get match money from other funders. So, we won't just lose federal. We will lose other money."
The Osceola Council on Aging said it receives $300,000 federally, which is 25 percent of the budget. It's not exactly clear how much the organization would be impacted, Hougland said they are already struggling to meet demand with more than 150 seniors on the waiting list.
"The baby boomers have hit, and we have more and more seniors," Hougland said. "We'll really be in a mess if we don't manage this."
Rondinella said she hopes to continue getting the help she depends on.
"A lot of people are going to be affected by this," she said. "If it's bad now, it's going to get worse."