KDADS

TOPEKA–The Kansas Department for Aging and Disability Services (KDADS) is urging state taxpayers to remember older adults in Kansas when they file their income tax returns.

The Senior Citizens’ Meals on Wheel Contribution is a check off found on Kansas income tax forms that allows taxpayers to donate to the Meals on Wheels program. All contributions are used solely for the purpose of providing Meals on Wheels to the elderly and disabled homebound in our communities.

“Meals on Wheels provides thousands of Kansans with a nutritious hot meal, a friendly visit and a safety check,” KDADS Interim Secretary Tim Keck said. “By donating, and by volunteering to deliver meals, you can ensure the seniors and the disabled in your neighborhood can live happy, healthy and independent lives at home, where they want to be.”

Under a federal program that is part of the Older Americans Act, the meals are prepared by a dietary staff and delivered by community volunteers. The purpose of this program is to provide healthful and tasty nourishment to elderly and handicapped individuals in our communities, helping them to continue to live independently in their own homes for as long as possible. The friendly encounter with the volunteers is often the only social interaction these individuals have on a daily basis, and the daily visit is important in case an emergency situation arises.

On your tax form, please check this program and enter the amount you wish to contribute. Contributions of less than $1 cannot be credited to the program.

The tax checkoff is authorized by Kansas Statute 70-3221g, which says:

(a) For all tax years commencing after December 31, 2001, each Kansas state individual income tax return form shall contain a designation as follows:

Senior Citizen Meals on Wheels Contribution Program. Check if you wish to donate, in addition to your tax liability, or designate from your refund, ___$1, ___$5, ___$10, or $_____.

In 2014, this tax checkoff provided $80,631 to the Meals on Wheels program. More than 3 million meals were provided in Kansas in 2014. The total cost of the federally sponsored program is $18.3 million.

To volunteer to help with the Meals on Wheels program and for information in your community call 855-200-ADRC (2372).