This is Meals on Wheels week Volunteers key to service’s success

Ken Johnston

This Meals on Wheels Week.
Currently the Rainy River Meals on Wheels program is delivering about 10 meals per day to local residents in need. Coordinator Florence Newman said the 20+ year old program has come full circle from its beginnings. “We are back getting our meals from the hospital.”
For a number of years the program contracted out its meals to local restaurants, but Newman feels the move back to hospital is a good one. “The hospital is already cooking well balanced meals for its patients and residents. They are also used to meeting special needs like for diabetics. So it is a good fit.”
Other than Newman who works 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. every weekday, the program is completely sustained by volunteers. “There are at least 50 volunteers who take the time to deliver the meals every weekday. Without them the program would not survive,” said Newman. She is very grateful to them and noted that many of them take more than one week during the year.
While people might think Meals on Wheels is only for senior citizens, Newman said, “It is available to whoever needs it. Just call me at 852-3872 to get signed up.” The cost of the meals is $7 per day and the menu varies on a six week rotation with everything from Swiss steak, turkey, roast beef, fish, ham and veal cutlets and soup, desserts, vegetables and potatoes.
Newman’s office, in the basement of the RR Clinic, also is home to a loan cupboard that rents out wheel chairs, walkers, bath seats, etc. “We only charge a small rental fee of $5 for three months,” said Newman.
While they are not doing anything out of the ordinary for Meals on Wheels Week, Newman did want to recognize all her volunteers and encourage anyone who thinks they need a hot meal once a day to sign up.