New Dawn Meals on Wheels launches frozen meals available Island-wide
“We’re proud of our frozen meal offerings and excited to expand the network of people we serve.”
A variety of nutritious and delicious meals prepared by Meals on Wheels are now available across Cape Breton Island as part of the new Frozen Meals Program.
The idea of a frozen meals was developed in the aftermath of Hurricane Fiona when the New Dawn Kitchen was closed for a week due to power outage. It became a reality in partnership with the Cape Breton Food Hub and with financial support from Nova Scotia Communities Culture Tourism and Heritage (NSCCTH) Food Insecurity Fund.
“What we do really well at New Dawn Meals on Wheels is prepare and deliver fresh, dietary-appropriate meals to seniors and others who struggle with nutrition and social isolation. Over the past few years, however, we have seen an increase in kitchen closures and non-delivery days because of severe winter storms and other climate emergencies,” said Sara Roth, Manager of New Dawn Meals on Wheels. “The Frozen Meal Program was developed to support individuals who are most impacted by climate emergencies and meal service interruptions; people who are homebound and isolated with special dietary needs.”
Provincial funding supported the development of the frozen meal menu and the necessary recipe testing, packaging, freezing and storage solutions. The frozen menu is adapted from standard New Dawn Meals on Wheels menus, which are overseen by a registered dietician. All frozen meal offerings are cardiac and diabetic-friendly with options for renal and other special diets.
The meals were put through rigorous testing with volunteer taste-testers, who helped refine the menu available now through the Cape Breton Food Hub and to Meals on Wheels clients. Choose from the following options:
- Roast Turkey Dinner
- Baked Chicken Dinner
- Chicken with Scalloped Potatoes
- Slow-cooked Pork Dinner
- Roast Beef Dinner
- Shepherd’s Pie with Vegetables
New Dawn Meals on Wheels serves more than 40,000 meals and 300 unique individuals annually, with all meals prepared fresh by trained cooks and delivered by a team of more than 80 dedicated volunteers. Delivery volunteers provide a meal and a friendly check-in to seniors and others who struggle with nutrition and social isolation.
In recent years, climate emergencies (including Hurricane Fiona and the winter storm of 2024) caused unexpected kitchen closures and interrupted meal service. For many people who rely on the prepared meal service for nutrition and social connection, service cancellations can cause undue stress in already difficult times.
In response, Meals on Wheels has strengthened kitchen infrastructure (including adding kitchen air cooling to prevent kitchen closure during heat waves), developed and implemented an emergency plan, established the New Dawn Urgent Food and Essentials Fund that offers meals and other supports at no charge during individual crisis or climate emergencies, and introduced the Frozen Meal Program.
Clients of the Meals on Wheels Service will have access to frozen meals during unexpected kitchen closures (staff illness, building closure, or power outage) and in advance of expected winter storms when it’s not safe for volunteer drivers to deliver.
“It gives us — and the people we serve — peace of mind knowing there’s increased access to nutritious meals during emergencies,” Roth said.
New Dawn Meals on Wheels has been granted $20,000 from the NSCCTH Food Insecurity Fund in collaboration with the Cape Breton Food Hub for start-up labour and material costs for the first year of the Frozen Meal Project. An additional $10,000 from Reaching Home (Community Action on Homelessness) has been used to purchase and install freezers with generator backup.
The partnership with the Cape Breton Food Hub means New Dawn Meals on Wheels frozen meals will be available Island-wide starting in June.
“Thanks to the Food Hub’s online marketplace and broad distribution network, New Dawn Meals on Wheels meals will be available outside Cape Breton County for the first time in 40 years of service,” said Roth. “We’re proud of our frozen meal offerings and excited to expand the network of people we serve. While a frozen meal can’t match the wellness benefits of a fresh-prepared meal shared with others, it can mean much-needed nutrition and comfort during otherwise stressful and uncertain times.”
To order frozen meals from New Dawn Meals on Wheels, visit the Cape Breton Food Hub Online Marketplace. Weekly order cycles open on Thursdays and close on Mondays evenings at 7 pm. Learn more about the Cape Breton Food Hub here.
