Can you spare a few hours a week ?
Meals on Wheels North West, incorporating the Mitchelton Meals on Wheels branch, isa not-for-profit, community-driven service that delivers fresh, nutritious meals to vulnerable clients, is feeling the pinch of the surge in COVID-19 cases. While Meals on Wheels services are available to anyone who needs them, the majority of clients are elderly, disabled, or recovering from illness or hospitalisation. Throughout the pandemic, this has placed many clients at greater risk, resulting in many people isolating themselves in their own homes. This practice of self-isolation amongst vulnerable members of society is widespread and as a result, Meals on Wheels have seen an increase in clients needing their service.
Though Meals on Wheels services receive some assistance from Federal and State Government funding, it is sadly not enough to meet the growing needs of their client base. Because of this, they rely on the ongoing generosity and commitment of dedicated volunteers. Michelle Duncan, Community Development Officer at Meals on Wheels North West, said “Throughout the lockdowns of 2020 and 2021, we were blown away by how the community stepped up to assist. But what we’re seeing now, with the reopening of borders and businesses in an attempt to ‘live with the virus’, is that vulnerable folks in our community are being left behind. We’ve seen an increase in people needing
The Western Echo February 2022 Page 6
our service, and unfortunately we’re struggling to maintain the number of volunteers required to continue delivering exceptional service. We don’t just drop meals off at the door. Our volunteers take the time to check in on the clients. This is especially important when, sadly, many of our clients report feeling extremely isolated and lonely. Often our volunteers are the only people our clients see on a regular basis”. Michelle stated “We’re desperately seeking new volunteers. It can take just a few hours each week, fortnight or month. Just those few hours can make a huge difference to the lives of vulnerable people living in our neighbourhood”. Frank Cardillo, a long time volunteer with Meals on Wheels, said “I really enjoy
helping out some great people. I realised fairly quickly that Meals on Wheels isn’t just about the food. For some, it’s also about seeing a friendly face at the door, which has been especially important during the pandemic. It’s been really rewarding to have a chat and a laugh with people. Hopefully we make them feel they haven’t been forgotten”. Michaela Sargent, a Meals on Wheels volunteer for two years, said “It breaks my heart that people living in my community experience such social isolation but by volunteering with Meals on Wheels, I know that I can help combat the severity of it”. Anybody interested in volunteering with Meals on Wheels, or anyone who’d like to learn more, are encouraged to contact us on (07) 3354 3919 or services@ mownorthwest.org.au.
website: http://www.westernecho.com.au
