Meals on Wheels
The sole program of the Volunteer Resource Centre is the Meals on Wheels program. Meals on Wheels is a member agency of the United Way.
Meals On Wheels began in Sydney in 1972 by small groups of church volunteers. The Volunteer Resource Centre took over the program when it became incorporated May 26, 1983. The Sydney and Area Meals On Wheels program provides approximately 150 meals per week, with a volunteer base of approximately 30 people.
Who is eligible for the program?
The program is available to anyone needing our services.
Meals are delivered at lunch or supper depending on the facility where they are prepared. The meals cost the recipient $6.00 per meal.
Who may request this service?
Requests may come from persons in need, relatives, friends, neighbors, community agencies such as hospital social services, nurses, VON, Public Health, doctors, clergy, etc.
How and where are the meal prepared?
Meals include full course hot dinners consisting of soup, vegetables, meat or fish, dessert and bread. The meals are professionally prepared at Braemore Home, Simeon’s Family Restaurant and MacGillivray Guest Home. Special dietary requirements can be met upon request.
Volunteers
Volunteers are the heart of the program. Volunteers are drivers who contribute their time and use of their vehicle. There are also helpers who visit briefly as they deliver the meals at the door.
Individual men or women are welcome as volunteers. Also relatives or friends who wish to work together can sign up as delivery teams. Teams of two – a driver and a helper – may deliver once a week, once every two weeks, or may prefer to be called when needed.
VOLUNTEERS ARE ALWAYS NEEDED TO HELP EXPAND OUR PROGRAM
Meals on Wheels is financed through payments from recipients, donations from individuals and groups. Donations are gratefully accepted and used to expand the service so that the needs of more of our participants can be met. We are a non-profit, volunteer driven organization committed to fostering independence and quality of life by providing affordable nutrition services.
Benefits of Service:
- Providing balanced nutritious meals
- Regaining and/or maintaining independence in the comfort of your own home
- Assuring peace of mind through frequent social contact and monitoring of well being
- Reducing hospitalization due to poor nutrition
- Offering ongoing assistance for the chronically ill
- Securing a link between the client and other community services as appropriate
- Alleviating the burden of primary caregiver
For more information contact:
Jennifer MacKinnon
Phone: (902) 562-1245
E-mail: jennifer@newdawn.ca
Monday – Friday 8:30am to 4:30pm
