The month of March is Nutrition Month in Canada and an ideal time, according to Carol Potter, to share information on an important service that Grey Bruce volunteers are providing to adults in need of a little help getting proper nutrition.
Carol is the Meals on Wheels program leader for Grey Bruce. Every weekday, Monday to Friday, upwards of 12 hot meals are delivered to adults in the Municipality of Meaford by local volunteers. The Meaford Meals on Wheels is a volunteer-based program overseen by Grey Bruce Home & Community Support Services. Carol coordinates the 24 Meaford volunteers who deliver 1,560 meals per year. Most are hot meals; some are frozen meals in lots of seven meals.
The meals are prepared by Sail Restaurant and Catering Company at the Sykes Street Sail Restaurant by head cook Bea Morrison and her staff.
“Sail Restaurant provides the meals at a third of the cost of other meal providers,” Carol said, “Bea keeps the cost to a minimum and provides service to the max. She follows a 22-day menu rotation. The meals include a soup or salad, hot entree, roll, and dessert, all in keeping with the Canada Food Guide size portions. Some volunteers commit to deliveries once a week, some, once a month.”
Home & Community Support Services is now in its 26th year.
The Meals on Wheels program dates back to London, England, during WW II, when a local resident had more food than expected, so she delivered the extra to her isolated neighbour, who thoroughly enjoyed the visit and the meal. It is because of similar foresight from local Grey and Bruce residents that we have the Meals on Wheels programs. Grey and Bruce counties are filled with neighbourly people who wish to help others when they are in need. These volunteers show their dedication to their community, and are part of the reason that Grey and Bruce counties are such great places to live.
In Grey Bruce:
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675 Meals on Wheels volunteers
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24,028 meals a year in 17 communities
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six frozen Meals on Wheels programs
Meals on Wheels is a unique program that brings nutritious meals to adults who are isolated or in need of a little help getting proper nutrition. The volunteers that deliver these meals bring a breath of fresh air, and hope to isolated clients.
“We are always looking for new volunteers.”
Anyone who is interested in volunteering, please call 519-372-2091 press 6, 1-800-267-3798 press 6 or visit www.homecommunitysupport.com.
Photo: L-R: Sail Restaurant head cook Bea Morrison and second cook Michael Hawman hand over seven hot meals to Mayor Barb Clumpus and volunteer Cathy Dekking to be delivered to Meals on Wheels clients in the Municipality of Meaford on Mach 12, during the Grey Bruce Home & Community Services Meals on Wheels March Campaign.
