HOUSTON, TX – Interfaith Ministries for Greater Houston (IM) is among the many nonprofit organizations awaiting clarification on the impact of the federal government’s recent executive order pausing certain grants and loans.
IM’s Meals on Wheels program, which serves over 4,300 seniors and adults with disabilities in Harris and Galveston counties, is the largest of its kind in Texas, delivering 1.6 million meals per year.
Despite the uncertainty, IM remains committed to providing essential services. KPRC 2 News’s reporter Bryce Newberry spoke with Ali Al Sudani, Chief Programs Officer at Interfaith Ministries for Greater Houston, about the situation.
“We are waiting to get further guidance from our federal and state partners on what the interpretation of this memo means for us for our operations in the Meals on Wheels program,” said Ali Al Sudani, Chief Programs Officer at Interfaith Ministries for Greater Houston. “However, as of this moment, we continue to provide our services.”
Funding uncertainty and community support
Meals on Wheels programs rely on a mix of government grants and private contributions. Interfaith Ministries receives approximately 40 cents of every dollar from federal funds, supplemented by philanthropy and donations.
“Each federal dollar we receive must be supplemented with 30% to ensure that we continue the services we are offering to our senior citizens who gave to this community,” Al Sudani explained. “I think they deserve that. They deserve us to take care of them and provide them the care and the meals they need to age gracefully in their homes.”
Currently, IM submits reimbursements for meal costs at the end of each month, meaning that potential funding disruptions could impact future operations.
“We deliver the meals throughout the month and we incur these expenses. At the end of the month, we submit the reimbursements,” Al Sudani said. “The impact, that will be for our reimbursement from the federal government. Our operations are a combination of private and government sources, and this is a public-private partnership.”
With January 31st approaching, the organization expects to submit reimbursement requests in the first week of February, meaning any funding delay could have immediate consequences.
“It might take a couple of weeks [to get that reimbursement],” Al Sudani said, emphasizing the need for steady cash flow to ensure uninterrupted services.
Legal challenges and future outlook
While organizations like IM await further federal guidance, a federal judge in Washington, D.C. has temporarily blocked the administration’s freeze on federal aid, setting a hearing for further arguments next Monday.
“It’s still a matter of welcome news or not,” Al Sudani responded to the development. “I look at it as, to provide the services that are needed to our communities, there should be a collaboration from different stakeholders—federal government, state governments, city government, and our philanthropy and general community.”
Al Sudani emphasized the bipartisan support that Meals on Wheels has historically received, calling it a “lifesaving program” that helps seniors maintain their independence, avoid costly institutional care, and age with dignity.
Commitment to seniors and community support
Despite the funding uncertainties, IM’s leadership remains committed to serving the community.
“We will do everything in our capacity to educate, advocate, promote, and procure all the necessary resources with the help of our volunteers and our generous donors,” Al Sudani said. “Meals on Wheels is going to continue. We are committed to this program.”
Al Sudani also encouraged Houston-area residents to continue supporting the program:
“I just want to encourage our Houstonians and our wonderful community to continue supporting our program at IM’s Meals on Wheels program.”
As IM awaits further federal guidance, the organization remains focused on its mission—to provide meals and care to the city’s most vulnerable residents.
