KEWANEE, Ill. — An insurance issue has forced the temporary suspension of Henry County’s Meals on Wheels program, according to Cassandra Schmoll, director of the Henry County Senior Center. Seniors expecting meals Tuesday instead received a message saying deliveries would not be made.

Schmoll said the program’s insurance carrier, which covered its fleet of 10 vehicles, dropped the coverage. She believes the operation may have grown too large for the carrier to insure. Although she reached out several times about renewal, she admitted she should have been more persistent.

“The sad thing is I was under the impression that they were going to get this cleared up,” Schmoll said. Once she learned the policy was no longer in effect, she said there was no choice but to cancel deliveries.

Schmoll is already in talks with another insurance company, one that she said already insures a similar meal transportation program. She is hopeful the issue will be resolved by Monday and service can resume.

With recent snow accumulation on the roads, Schmoll acknowledged the program’s suspension comes at a difficult time. Henry County Meals on Wheels delivers about 300 noon meals to seniors and people with disabilities across the county. There are three routes in Kewanee and two in Geneseo. Drivers cover hundreds of miles five days a week, reaching Atkinson, Annawan, Orion, Colona, Bishop Hill, Galva, Lynn Center and Andover.

Insuring the fleet has required a special transportation policy that costs almost $8,000 annually, Schmoll said.

“The new insurance company said they will do everything to have us up and running by Monday,” she said.