When George Holland became a volunteer after he retired, he wasn’t aware he’d one day need the service himself.
Mr Holland was a healthy retiree – or as healthy as you can be before suffering a major stroke and a long recovery, followed by a broken hip and long rehab.
He is the current president of Logan Central’s Meals on Wheels and oversees a team of dedicated and hardworking volunteers remotely from his hospital bed.
But Mr Holland is worried about the future. Local Meals on Wheels groups are seeing an increase in the number of people accessing their service during Covid.
But driver numbers aren’t keeping pace with demand.
So Mr Holland and Logan Central Meals on Wheels are on a recruitment drive in an effort to convince people they should become a driver to deliver nutritious home-cooked meals to local residents.
Mr Holland said the group is chasing drivers of all backgrounds, languages and ages to deliver meals to residents who can’t cook for themselves or are convalescing at home from surgery.
“A lot of the new clients we are seeing won’t venture out during their recovery phase or don’t have the skills or stamina to cook hot meals at home so they turn to us for help,” he said.
“Our job is to deliver nutritious meals to their door and make sure our most vulnerable members of our community are looked after – but we really need more drivers to take the meals to them.
“If you have a car and can commit to a few hours a week in the mornings to deliver meals, you will make a big difference in a local persons life. Mums with kids at school, retirees looking for volunteer opportunities or people looking for additional community service obligations to fulfil are all welcome to lend a hand and you are covered by our insurance during your shift.”
Logan City Councillor Teresa Lane is backing the local drive and said people recovering from surgeries are needing help with food preparation and are afraid to venture out to the shops because of Covid outbreaks.
“COVID has people with compromised immune systems worried and many are looking towards home-based services that offer them fully cooked multiple course meals at a very affordable price,” Cr Lane said.
Margaret, aged 84, has volunteered at Meals on Wheels for more than 15 years, showing up three times a week every week.
“Our job is to make sure people get nutritious meals delivered to their door. We are a friendly bunch who laugh a lot and come together to help vulnerable members of our area.”
Volunteers like Margaret prep the food and cook under the watchful eye of a chef. Each food hamper is made to the client’s dietary needs and once they are packed and ready to go they need a person to deliver them to the door.
If you are interested in volunteering please contact your local Meals on Wheels on 38082312 or register online at www.qmow.org.au/volunteers.
Anyone can refer a client to Meals on Wheels including family members, friends, a hospital, GP, rehab facility, community nurse, dietitian, law enforcement agency. You can even refer yourself if you can’t cope with your cooking needs. There are no waiting lists, and absolutely no contracts.
It is suggested that if you are eligible for a funding program such as NDIS, Home Care Package, Commonwealth Home Support Program, Queensland Communities Support Scheme that you discuss including meals as part of your nominated services.
