The task of funding programs for senior residents in Henry County could prove to be a challenge in the coming months.

  One reason for that is a decline in participation for a long-standing event benefiting older residents.

  Henry County Senior Services is still tallying the money raised for last month’s Miles for Meals Walk. As of late last week, the total stood at $26,800, said the walk’s coordinator, Ann Marie Quincey.

  “It’s probably our lowest attendance that we’ve ever had,” she said. “I would say that less than 100 walkers showed up. It’s just getting harder to get community participation.”

  Quincey acknowledged that the walk typically falls on a popular weekend for the area, with other groups scheduling activities at the same time.

  “There’s just so many more needs and other events, it’s just getting harder for people to decide what they want to do,” she said.

  The Henry County Council on Aging promotes the walk each year as the primary fundraiser for Senior Services. Joni McRae chairs the council board and said the group is approaching the silver anniversary of the Miles for Meals Walk.

  She said the council’s goal is to reach a broader portion of the community to increase participation in the event in the future.

  “The plan is that the Council on Aging board will proceed with getting our fundraising efforts started in August of 2019 for the 2020 walk,” said McRae. “We will increase our marketing efforts.”

  Diane Reed, director of Henry County Senior Services, recently reported that 234 seniors receive home delivered meals and 164 receive supportive service in their homes.  Reed’s department operates four senior centers, with an average daily attendance of more than 500 seniors.   For more information, visit the Senior Services section of the county website.