Rising Gas Prices Threaten Meals on Wheels Services in Kansas City

Nonprofit organizations worry about continuing operations as fuel costs soar.

Apr. 4, 2026 at 12:20am

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A geometric abstract illustration using bold shapes and primary colors to represent the impact of rising fuel prices on nonprofit organizations.The rising cost of gas threatens to disrupt vital community services like Meals on Wheels in Kansas City.Kansas City Today

The rising cost of gas has nonprofits in Kansas City, Missouri, such as Meals on Wheels, concerned about their ability to continue serving the community. Meals on Wheels relies on vans to deliver frozen food to hundreds of seniors, and the organization is taking a hit from the increased diesel prices. Leaders at the KC Shepherd's Center, the largest Meals on Wheels provider in the city, say the funding challenges compound the fuel costs, putting the remaining 500 clients in danger of being dropped from the program.

Why it matters

Meals on Wheels provides a vital service to low-income older adults in the Kansas City area, delivering hot meals and frozen food to those who may not have the means or ability to leave their homes. The rising gas prices threaten to disrupt this essential service, potentially leaving vulnerable seniors without access to nutritious meals.

The details

The KC Shepherd's Center, which operates the Meals on Wheels program in Kansas City, has seen its gas bill increase at the same rate as everyone else's. This is a significant challenge for the struggling nonprofit, which already faced federal funding cuts last year. The organization has had to tighten its budget, and the additional fuel costs are making it difficult to reach all of its clients. Meals on Wheels relies on volunteers to help deliver the meals, and those volunteers are also being hit by high gas prices, making it harder for them to continue their service.

  • In 2025, the Shepherd's Center cut its Meals on Wheels clients from 1,200 to just 500 due to federal cuts in funding.
  • AAA says gas prices have reached a new high since 2022 and do not expect them to drop anytime soon.

The players

Janet Baker

The executive director of the KC Shepherd's Center, the largest Meals on Wheels provider in Kansas City.

Xavier

A Meals on Wheels volunteer who has been delivering the daily hot meal on his bicycle to avoid paying high gas prices.

Carly McKinnis

A spokesperson for AAA who says that the problem of rising gas prices, especially for diesel, is not going away anytime soon.

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What they’re saying

“Our gas bill has increased at the same rate as everyone else's has at home, but we're a struggling nonprofit.”

— Janet Baker, Executive Director, KC Shepherd's Center

“Diesel right now is kind of the dark horse. So when diesel prices rise, it pushes up the cost of goods and that often gets passed on to consumers.”

— Carly McKinnis, Spokesperson, AAA

“I can't overexplain the level of commitment that our volunteers have.”

— Janet Baker, Executive Director, KC Shepherd's Center

What’s next

The KC Shepherd's Center is looking for additional volunteers as fears rise about the impact of gas prices on current volunteers. The organization is also looking for local philanthropies to partner with to secure additional funding.

The takeaway

The rising gas prices in Kansas City are putting a significant strain on nonprofit organizations like Meals on Wheels, which rely on volunteers and transportation to deliver essential services to vulnerable seniors. This situation highlights the need for increased funding and support for these critical community programs, as well as the broader economic challenges facing low-income individuals and families in the face of rising costs.