Humbling, overwhelming: Wesley Family Services to continue 1 of 2 senior programs slated for closure
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Both programs serve nearly 700 senior citizens in Allegheny and Westmoreland counties
Less than a week after Wesley Family Services said it would end two of its programs for senior citizens, the nonprofit received a $100,000 anonymous donation Tuesday to maintain one of the initiatives through June 2028.
The nonprofit confirmed to TribLive last week it would end its In Service of Seniors program for Allegheny County residents on July 17 and conclude Open Your Heart to a Senior — the version of the program for Westmoreland County residents — on July 31.
But with the help of a $100,000 gift and fundraising plan pitched by an anonymous donor, the Open Your Heart to a Senior program will continue for the next two years, said Wesley Family Services CEO Doug Muetzel.
“When you look at the philanthropy in Western Pennsylvania, it’s always been incredibly strong,” he said. “But it’s always humbling when a donor comes forward with no expectation of anything in return, other than the focus on the recipient.”
About 100 volunteers and a handful of paid Wesley staff members operate the programs, helping nearly 700 senior citizens across Allegheny and Westmoreland counties with in-home nonmedical services. The majority of recipients, nearly 450, live in Westmoreland County.
“That one encounter with a senior where the senior feels valued, where the senior had access to food when they didn’t two hours before the volunteer got there — the ripple effect of that is almost immeasurable,” Muetzel said.
In the absence of a similar donation to the Allegheny County program, In Service of Seniors will close July 17, Muetzel said. The program would need at least $130,000 to operate for another year.
“Because the shortfall in Allegheny County is so significant, it would have to be — once again — significant dollars,” he said.
Despite a rising senior population, funding has been more difficult to come by, Muetzel said.
“It continues to be evident that needs continue to grow and are significant and real,” he said. “These are people that really benefit from a volunteer coming into their home and helping them.
“And yet funding, there just never is enough funding to meet all the needs.”
Wesley: Senior programs have existed for years
Volunteers drive seniors to medical appointments, help with grocery shopping and check in on their well-being over the phone, said Rebecca Maletto-Cornell, Wesley’s director of volunteer services.
“(The programs) really just allow them to be independent, living in their own home and to function in a productive way that they feel their voice is heard,” she said, “they’re still capable of doing other things on their own independently.”
In Service of Seniors began about two decades ago. Wesley has operated it since April 2017, when then-Wesley Spectrum merged with Family Services of Western Pennsylvania.
Wesley inherited Open Your Heart to a Senior from the Westmoreland County branch of United Way in 2020.
It costs Wesley between $150,000 and $200,000 each year to run the programs, Muetzel said. They are funded by United Way of Southwestern Pennsylvania and Westmoreland and Allegheny counties.
United Way has decreased its funding to the programs in recent years, Muetzel said, and both Westmoreland and Allegheny counties increased their financial support for the programs to fill the gap.
United Way has given $905,000 to Wesley’s senior programs since 2017 — $735,000 between 2017 and 2020; $150,000 between 2020 and 2023; and $20,000 between 2023 and 2024, according to Chief Marketing Officer Kitty Julian.
United Way has seen a 30% increase in requests for financial support since 2023, according to a statement the nonprofit issued to TribLive.
“When we narrowed to the strongest proposals, funding requested totaled $45.6 million, which is more than double the resources we have available,” the statement said.
United Way also provides $820,000 to seven organizations serving older adults.
“Funding decisions are always difficult, especially when needs are so great,” the statement said.
Senior populations on the rise
Westmoreland County gives $30,000 to Open Your Heart to a Senior each year, according to human services Director Rob Hamilton. And for the past two years, Westmoreland has directed about $150,000 of its state American Rescue Plan Act funding to cover the gap left by decreased support from United Way, he said.
The county’s American Rescue Plan Act dollars have since expired, and — up until Tuesday’s anonymous donation — Wesley was unable to find an alternative funding source, Hamilton said.
“It’s always difficult to find funds for any of our programs,” he said. “In Pennsylvania, especially Westmoreland County, we have a pretty unique division in that our residents are aging at high numbers.”
About 26% of Westmoreland’s population consists of those 65 and older, according to U.S. Census data. In Allegheny County, those 65 and older make up nearly 22% of the population.
Allegheny County’s Area Agency on Aging reported in April it is facing a projected shortfall of more than $5 million in its roughly $50 million budget. Officials said this will mean longer wait times, new service limits and reduced access for older adults seeking help.
Allegheny County’s senior citizen population grew 22% between 2014 and 2024, according to the American Community Survey. The cost of living also has risen — about 39% since 2016, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
The shortfall also is tied to reductions to the agency’s funding, which stem from the Medicaid reductions included in President Donald Trump’s “One Big Beautiful Bill,” the agency told TribLive in April.
Allegheny County has helped fund In Service of Seniors since the 2024-25 fiscal year, according to a statement issued by the agency and the Department of Human Services. The county gave about $200,000 in 2024-25 and $110,000 in 2025-26 with the intent of temporarily supporting the program as Wesley searched for a permanent funding source.
“Unfortunately, a sustainable funding source has not become available to maintain the program,” the statement said, “and federal budget cuts have forced (the agency) to focus its limited resources on providing legally mandated services to those who are most in need, including continued funding to Wesley Family Services for in-home supports for seniors.
“We remain committed to working in partnership to serve older adults in Allegheny County.”
Director: Seniors ‘still need support’
Maletto-Cornell was met with disappointment and sadness from volunteers and recipients hearing about the cuts to the senior programs last week.
“Many (volunteers) recognize that there are seniors in need,” she said. “They still need support, and that loss in itself, we hold that near and dear to our hearts.”
Wesley has informed recipients of In Service of Seniors’end and pointed them to alternative resources, Muetzel said — including North Hills Community Outreach, Eastern Area Adult Services, South Hills Interfaith Ministry, Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank, Salvation Army and the nonprofit’s grocery and medical shuttles.
A full list of resources can be found on the nonprofit’s website, wfspa.org/service/isos-oyhs/.
Muetzel is open to hearing ideas about how to revive In Service of Seniors.
“We really want to encourage folks,” he said, “if they have ideas and thoughts around volunteers and want to hear more about this, we would love to have coffee conversations about dreaming of ways that we can be more innovative to better serve those people that could be entrusted to our care.”
Click here to make a donation to the Open Your Heart to a Senior Program
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