When Budgets Shrink but Needs Grow: How Our Community is Stepping Up for Seniors

 

CLARIFICATION:

 

To our donors, volunteers and supporters everywhere.

We made an error regarding our current funding situation in the opening of our September newsletter sent on Monday, 9/2, for which we apologize. A revision of the opening paragraph follows:

“At Island Senior Resources (ISR), we are facing one of the most difficult challenges in our history. Proposed cuts to government budgets threaten nearly half of ISR’s revenue. At the very same time, the need for our essential services—like Meals on Wheels and MedRides—is growing faster than ever. Seniors and disabled adults in our community are asking for more help, not less, and for many, ISR is the only source of reliable meals and transportation to crucial medical appointments.” 

Government funding supports delivery of basic needs for Island County seniors, disabled adults and the people who care for them. We want to reiterate that “even in the middle of the storm, we have seen something remarkable: YOU.”

We appreciate the concern we have received since Monday, and hope that this clarification is helpful.

 

Gratefully, 

Interim Executive Directors –

Cheryn Weiser and Nic Wildeman  

 

 

In the past few months, neighbors and friends throughout Whidbey and Camano have stepped forward to show their support. We’ve received heartwarming donations—some large, many small, all deeply meaningful—that help keep food on the table for isolated seniors or ensure someone can get to chemotherapy, dialysis, or follow-up care. This generosity reminds us that even when federal funds shrink, the heart of our community expands. 

Still, the reality is stark. Should our funding be cut in half, ISR would be unable to sustain our services at current levels without broader and more consistent local support. Meals on Wheels depends on volunteer drivers who are reimbursed for their expenses. Meals on Wheels which served over 100,000 meals last year faces grocery costs that keep climbing. MedRides volunteers who give their time and their cars to ensure people don’t miss lifesaving care.

The math is simple: without more people stepping in—through donations or by giving a few hours a week to volunteer—the need will outpace our resources. 

That’s why we are asking now, urgently but with hope. We believe in the strength of this community. We’ve seen it before, and we are seeing it again. If you are able, please consider a monthly donation to ISR. Steady, reliable contributions—even what you might spend on one dinner out—have the power to keep a senior nourished and connected. And if you have time to spare, becoming a volunteer driver is one of the most impactful ways you can serve. A delivered meal may be the only face a homebound person sees that day. A ride to treatment may mean one more month, one more year, with family. 

This is more than a funding issue; it’s about dignity, independence, and compassion. Our seniors and disabled neighbors deserve to know they will not be forgotten in their time of need. Together, we can ensure that despite federal cuts, no one in Island County goes hungry or misses medical care because they can’t get there. 

We invite you to stand with us, as so many already have. With your support—through giving, volunteering, or simply sharing this message—our community will not only meet the need; we will show what happens when we come together for one another. 

 

Thank you, from our staff, volunteers, and the clients ISR serves.  

Interim Executive Directors: Cheryn Weiser and Nic Wildeman  

 

 

You Can Make a Difference Today 

Our seniors and disabled neighbors are counting on us. 

  • $25 provides a week of Meals on Wheels for a homebound senior. 
  • Just 3 hours a month as a volunteer driver ensures someone can get to medical treatment. 
  • Monthly gifts sustain our programs all year long. 

Donate today to keep Meals on Wheels and MedRides strong. 
Volunteer with us and change a life with your time and compassion. 

Every action matters. Together, we ensure no one in Island County goes hungry or misses critical medical care. 

Call us at (360) 321-1600 or visit our website to give or sign up to volunteer. 

Island Senior Resources — Neighbors helping neighbors, with dignity and care.