ON WHAT’S HAPPENING HERE. SARAH? YEAH. ON TUESDAY, THE COUNTY DECIDED TO GO FROM A 60% RATE PAYBACK IN OCTOBER TO PAUSING IT COMPLETELY IN THE MONTH OF NOVEMBER FOR ITS FUNDING AGENCIES. IT IS WITH THIS IN MIND THAT MYSELF AND THE BUDGET SERVICES DEPARTMENT OF THE COUNTY RECOMMEND THAT. EFFECTIVE NOVEMBER 1ST, THE COUNTY NO LONGER REIMBURSE PROVIDERS. THIS NOW INCLUDES THE OFFICE OF AGING AND NONPROFITS AND SERVICES LIKE MEALS ON WHEELS. WE ARE RECEIVING CALLS FROM OUR CLIENTS. ARE YOU STILL DELIVERING TODAY AND WHAT DOES THIS MEAN FOR YOU? AND WE GET CALLS, ESPECIALLY FROM OUR VOLUNTEERS AS WELL, WHO ARE REALLY CONCERNED AND ARE VERY VOCAL AND ADVOCATES ABOUT THE VALUE OF OUR SERVICES. EILEEN NANKERVIS WITH MEALS ON WHEELS SAYS IT’S A DEVASTATING POSITION TO BE IN AS A NONPROFIT, DIPPING INTO YOUR RESERVES WITH AN UNCERTAIN FUTURE IS SCARY. IT’S THE PERFECT STORM RIGHT NOW, HONESTLY, BETWEEN STATE AND FEDERAL, THE LACK OF FUNDING IS ALSO CREATING MORE WORK FOR UNITED WAY OF LANCASTER COUNTY, WHO PARTNERED DIRECTLY WITH THESE IMPACTED ORGANIZATIONS. FOR INSTANCE, WE JUST SENT OUT A MAILING TO A LOT OF OUR NONPROFIT PARTNERS SO THEY CAN SPECIFICALLY TELL US, BECAUSE WE DON’T WANT TO REFER SOMEONE THROUGH TO AN ORGANIZATION THAT RIGHT NOW HAS FURLOUGHED STAFF BECAUSE THE BUDGET HAS IMPACTED THEM. UNITED WAY ALSO RUNS 211, SO THEY WANT TO MAKE SURE HELP IS THERE WHEN SOMEONE NEEDS IT MOST. OUR CALLS ARE TAKING LONGER AT 211 BECAUSE OF SOME OF THE UNKNOWNS WE WANT. WHEN SOMEONE CALLS US IN A MOMENT OF CRISIS TO HAVE AN ANSWER AT HAND, AND IT’S A LOT MORE CHALLENGING WHEN EVERYONE’S BUDGETS ARE IN FLUX. COMMUNICATION BETWEEN THESE ORGANIZATIONS IS KEY WHEN TRYING TO NAVIGATE THROUGH THIS. NOW, KATE ZIMMERMAN ALSO SAID AT UNITED WAY THEY HAVE CHECKED IN WITH THEIR GRANT PARTNERS TO GIVE THEM THE OPTION OF REALLOCATING GRANT FUNDS TO MORE IMMEDIATE NEED
Lancaster County is pausing November reimbursements as state budget impasse deepens; Nonprofits brace
Updated: 7:17 PM EDT Oct 22, 2025
Lancaster County is expected to spend $32.4 million by the end of October to keep human services running during the state budget impasse. As a result, the commissioners decided to pause November payments to providers.In the absence of a state budget, the county fully paid first-quarter invoices — July through September — for Drug & Alcohol services, Children & Youth services, and Behavioral Health and Developmental Service providers at a cost of roughly $27 million, county officials said. Following a September work session, the county administrator and budget team recommended paying October invoices at 60%. County officials said the situation worsened Oct. 1, when the state stopped distributing lottery funds to counties for Office of Aging programs, adding to the local burden. Part of the county administrator’s recommendation includes Office of Aging providers being reimbursed 60% for October, to match other funded agencies.The uncertainty is rippling through nonprofits.”The state budget impasse is having a huge impact,” said Feleen Nancarvis, executive director of Meals on Wheels of Lancaster, which is reimbursed through the county’s Office of Aging. “If the impasse continues, we’re looking at not being reimbursed for November services onward, which is devastating for a nonprofit when you have to dip into your reserves with an uncertain future.”Nancarvis said the program invoices by the number of meals delivered per client each month — typically 20 to 30 meals — serving more than 200 seniors monthly. Even in normal times, reimbursement rates often don’t cover full costs. “The true cost of a home-delivered meal is $25,” she said. “If you’re only reimbursed at $10 or $11, you still have to make up the loss through fundraising and grants.”To sustain deliveries, Meals on Wheels of Lancaster is launching a “Feed Your Elders” campaign, asking for $25 donations — the full cost of one meal. “There’s no reason anybody in our community should go hungry,” she said.The United Way of Lancaster County, which operates the 211 helpline across multiple counties, said call volumes are “absolutely skyrocketing” as residents seek help with housing, food and utilities.”It’s the perfect storm between state and federal,” said Kate Zimmerman, United Way’s CEO. “We’ve seen more than a 100% increase in calls for food assistance, and with federal energy assistance tightening, we expect utility calls to rise, too.” Zimmerman said navigators are spending more time on each call to avoid referring people to programs that have paused services or furloughed staff. “What we don’t want to do is send someone in crisis to a dead end,” she said.United Way says it is contacting grant partners to reallocate funds to immediate needs, but the prolonged uncertainty will halt a nonprofit’s ability to innovate. “When you’re just surviving as an organization, you’re not innovating,” she said, urging state leaders to find a solution.How to help: Zimmerman encouraged residents to support local food pantries — “drop off an extra bag” — and look for United Way’s annual holiday guide to connect with families in need. Nancarvis asked donors to back Meals on Wheels’ Feed Your Elders campaign to keep seniors fed.County leaders said the current approach is untenable without state action.
Lancaster County is expected to spend $32.4 million by the end of October to keep human services running during the state budget impasse. As a result, the commissioners decided to pause November payments to providers.
In the absence of a state budget, the county fully paid first-quarter invoices — July through September — for Drug & Alcohol services, Children & Youth services, and Behavioral Health and Developmental Service providers at a cost of roughly $27 million, county officials said. Following a September work session, the county administrator and budget team recommended paying October invoices at 60%.
County officials said the situation worsened Oct. 1, when the state stopped distributing lottery funds to counties for Office of Aging programs, adding to the local burden. Part of the county administrator’s recommendation includes Office of Aging providers being reimbursed 60% for October, to match other funded agencies.
The uncertainty is rippling through nonprofits.
“The state budget impasse is having a huge impact,” said Feleen Nancarvis, executive director of Meals on Wheels of Lancaster, which is reimbursed through the county’s Office of Aging. “If the impasse continues, we’re looking at not being reimbursed for November services onward, which is devastating for a nonprofit when you have to dip into your reserves with an uncertain future.”
Nancarvis said the program invoices by the number of meals delivered per client each month — typically 20 to 30 meals — serving more than 200 seniors monthly. Even in normal times, reimbursement rates often don’t cover full costs. “The true cost of a home-delivered meal is $25,” she said. “If you’re only reimbursed at $10 or $11, you still have to make up the loss through fundraising and grants.”
To sustain deliveries, Meals on Wheels of Lancaster is launching a “Feed Your Elders” campaign, asking for $25 donations — the full cost of one meal.
“There’s no reason anybody in our community should go hungry,” she said.
The United Way of Lancaster County, which operates the 211 helpline across multiple counties, said call volumes are “absolutely skyrocketing” as residents seek help with housing, food and utilities.
“It’s the perfect storm between state and federal,” said Kate Zimmerman, United Way’s CEO. “We’ve seen more than a 100% increase in calls for food assistance, and with federal energy assistance tightening, we expect utility calls to rise, too.” Zimmerman said navigators are spending more time on each call to avoid referring people to programs that have paused services or furloughed staff. “What we don’t want to do is send someone in crisis to a dead end,” she said.
United Way says it is contacting grant partners to reallocate funds to immediate needs, but the prolonged uncertainty will halt a nonprofit’s ability to innovate. “When you’re just surviving as an organization, you’re not innovating,” she said, urging state leaders to find a solution.
How to help: Zimmerman encouraged residents to support local food pantries — “drop off an extra bag” — and look for United Way’s annual holiday guide to connect with families in need. Nancarvis asked donors to back Meals on Wheels’ Feed Your Elders campaign to keep seniors fed.
County leaders said the current approach is untenable without state action.