We usually average about 200 deliveries a day says administrator
MEALS on Wheels has been delivering healthy meals to the elderly and the infirm since 1975. It continues to do so under the direction of administrator Tannika Rodrigues and her staff, and a host of long-serving volunteers.
Doctors are contacted, asked to provide an assessment of a person’s dietary needs, before they are accepted as a client.
“We usually average about 200 deliveries a day,” Mrs. Rodrigues added. “(On Monday), we delivered 195 and it usually stays within that ballpark figure.
“We’ve gone a little over but it always comes back. Some people go into hospital but we always have new people coming on.”
The programme is subsidised, enabling clients to receive the three-course meals at a cost of only $4.
“Some people who can’t afford that but we do have people who sponsor the programme. Approximately one-third of the people can’t afford to pay. But most people do pay for their meals.”
Finding volunteers can be a problem for the charity. A drive is launched at different points throughout the year, to ensure that there are sufficient people to keep the programme running.
Many have been involved for several years, their commitment led by a genuine need within the community.
“At 80, we try and ease them out of driving unless we can see they’re still capable and not going to go out there and make a lot of mistakes because we are dealing with people’s diets,” Mrs. Rodrigues explained.
“We’re basically here to help the elderly and the infirm. It doesn’t have to be an older person.
“We’re here for anyone who is in a position where they can’t cook for themselves — maybe they’ve had surgery and are temporarily bedridden.
“We have people like that and we have older clients who need help with their diets.
“They’re at a point in their life where they are not cooking for themselves anymore and it helps their families if we provide them with a meal at lunchtime when they’re out to work.”
