Meals on Wheels dropping a day?

MONTVILLE, Conn. (WTNH) -- They rely on meals delivered to their homes, but funding cuts are taking a bite out of an important program. Now the people who might have trouble getting around because of age or perhaps a disability are feeling the squeeze.

"All yours. There's frozens on the bottom okay? Have a good day."

News 8 rode along with Donna Deveau.

"This is a hot meal and today we have fish sticks," she said.

Deveau delivers Meals on Wheels to more than 30 homes in Montville each day.

"I have clients that basically I"m the only one they see on a regular basis," said Deveau.

Due to a drop in federal funding she's seeing them a little less. The Thames Valley Council for Community Action had to stop Monday meal deliveries in several eastern Connecticut towns to close a $42,000 funding gap.

For some folks the delivery drivers are a life line.

"When I walked in she was on the floor and she said she had been there all evening or through the night," Deveau said.

Barbara Deshefy is just happy to have the daily visits.

"That's a good thing because they come every day and they check on you too," Deshefy said. "If somebody doesn't answer the door then there's a question."

Deveau's clients still get seven meals a week. What she does though is on Fridays she delivers three meals instead of the two for the weekend.

So no more Monday knock at the door.

"I miss it a little bit, yeah, I look forward to it on Tuesdays," one woman said.

Folks pay what they can.

"There's a suggested donation for them and we go from there," said Deveau.

However, you don't have to get a delivery to make a donation.