Meals on Wheels vans vandalized, leaving seniors with fewer transportation options
Area seniors are being left in a lurch after a number of Meals on Wheels passenger vans were vandalized Tuesday night.
According to a news release from Meals on Wheels Southwest OH & Northern KY, staff discovered early Wednesday morning that the catalytic converters, which are crucial engine parts, had been removed from two 18-passenger vans and two 14-passenger vans at the organization's West End facility.
Left with half their fleet, Meals on Wheels officials decided to prioritize giving seniors rides to their adult day programs and medical appointments.
That leaves no transportation for other services for seniors, like grocery store trips or recreational outings. A group grocery store trip for seniors in Cheviot had to be canceled, as well as visits to area senior centers.
It will cost upwards of $2,000 to $3,000 to fix each van, the organization said.
Meals on Wheels provided 20,413 one-way trips to seniors in Hamilton County by the end of July.
Meals on Wheels is asking anyone who has information about the vandalism to contact Cincinnati police.
This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Meals on Wheels vans vandalized at Cincinnati facility
