Calls for the meals on wheels lifeline to be protected in law have been backed by volunteers in Kirklees.
Caring caterers say swingeing cuts have put the service at risk throughout the UK and they want the government to take action to reverse the trend of decline.
Angela Payne, who has been running a voluntary meals on wheels service in the Holme Valley for two years, agrees.
She says she and a dozen or so helpers are constantly fighting fire to keep going for the clients who depend on their help.
With no cash help from Kirklees Council, the group relies on grants. “We are OK for the year ahead, but if the grants run dry then we can’t continue,” said Angela. “And we are really only scratching the surface of the level of need.”
She is backed by Anna Lancaster, community manager for the region’s Royal Voluntary Service and in charge of delivering scores of hot meals in north Kirklees.
“There is a huge need for this,” she said. “Probably more than we can even estimate.”
The action call coincides with National Meals on Wheels Week, with the National Association of Care Catering saying it is unlikely the service will survive another round of government cuts.
Mrs Payne, whose group delivers hot meals to some 15 people every Friday, said: “We get nothing from Kirklees.
“We can’t manage any more than the 15 clients we serve. We don’t want to stretch ourselves and end up letting people down. We started with 20 but it was too much.
“There is a lot of work involved.”
She has tried to get a similar service running in Honley. It didn’t materialise but she says there is a chance something could be arranged in the future.
“There are people in the Honley area who want the service,” said Mrs Payne. “There might be a chance of a similar group. We are looking into it and it is in abeyance.”
Mrs Payne’s group is similar to The Colander Girls - set up in 2011 by volunteers in the Slaithwaite area.
This group was helped by a starring role in The Hairy Bikers’ TV programme and later they expanded into Golcar.
“We just missed out on the Hairy Bikers’ link, but the Slaithwaite group helped us to set up,” said Mrs Payne.
The RVS service covers areas such as Batley, Dewsbury and Cleckheaton, offering a hot two-course meal for £5.20. Volunteers and paid staff also provide tea-packs and frozen foods.
Neel Radia, chairman of the NACC, said: “Removing this vital lifeline for elderly people not only puts more pressure on hospitals but is also dangerous for those who rely on the service.
“Maintaining good nutrition and the human contact that comes with this is key to our elderly living independently for as long as possible. Cutting this service puts vulnerable people at risk”.
