When a Peterborough woman first started receiving Meals on Wheels through Community Care Peterborough, she had no appetite and didn’t feel well emotionally.
Then the woman began receiving subsidized frozen meals on a regular basis through the longstanding Community Care program.
“Until enjoying frozen meals, I had not been doing the best job cooking for myself,” she said. “I lost my appetite and with it my energy, positivity, and mental clarity. After I ate the first eight meals, I started to feel better and more like myself. I’ve even started cooking again and feel much happier.”
That’s just one example of the impact the Meals on Wheels program has on its recipients, Chris LeBlanc, director of donors and public relations for Community Care, shared with kawarthaNOW.
“Meals on Wheels ensures that our clients receive nutritious, well-balanced meals that support their health and well-being, even when cooking at home becomes challenging,” LeBlanc said.
On Tuesday (October 22), Community Care marked the 60th anniversary of the Meals on Wheels program in Peterborough, which began serving the local community on October 22, 1964 when the former Civic Hospital (now Peterborough Regional Health Centre) prepared seven meals a day that were delivered by volunteers from the Rotary Club of Peterborough.
Meals on Wheels originated in the United Kingdom during the German bombing campaign in the Second World War known as the Blitz, when many people lost their homes and the ability to cook their own food. A group of volunteer women prepared and delivered food for these people using prams, carts, bikes with baskets, cars, and other wheeled vehicles.
The concept, which evolved into the modern-day program of delivering prepared meals to seniors, spread to other countries including Canada when the first Meals on Wheels program was created in Brampton in 1963. In the Peterborough area, Meals on Wheels now provides more than 50,000 meals annually to seniors and adults with physical challenges across the city and county of Peterborough.
LeBlanc pointed out the impact of the program on its clients extends beyond the meals alone, which help seniors and adults with physical challenges overcome mobility issues and access healthy food without leaving home. By delivering directly to their doors, the program also provides a social visit by a caring volunteer and a safety check for those who are isolated. Sometimes, a Meals on Wheels volunteer may be the only person a senior interacts with on a given day.
“Each delivery offers not just a meal but a friendly face, providing clients with essential social interaction and a reassuring check-in that promotes their safety and emotional well-being,” LeBlanc said.
Since its transfer to Community Care in 2004, Meals on Wheels has become an essential part of the organization’s services. The program has doubled its reach, now delivering hot and frozen meals five days a week to clients across the city and county of Peterborough.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, additional services such as grocery deliveries were introduced, further expanding the program’s impact.
“This anniversary is a testament to the generosity and dedication of our volunteers, donors, and community partners,” said Danielle Belair, CEO of Community Care, in a media release. “Meals on Wheels has always been more than just a meal — it’s a connection, a check-in, and a reminder that no one is alone. We are proud to have supported this program for 20 years, and we look forward to many more years of service.”
To commemorate the milestone, Community Care will be celebrating throughout the upcoming year with a variety of events and initiatives.
Community Care will launch the “60 Stories for 60 Years” series in November. Each week, a new vignette will be shared on the organization’s social media channels, highlighting key moments, volunteers, and community partners who have played a significant role in Meals on Wheels’ history.
These stories will include people like the late Bernice Clark, the program’s first employee and longtime champion, and Hester Carson, a volunteer who donated holiday cakes made by her decorating class at the YWCA in the 1960s. The series will also feature Murray Street Baptist Church, which provided the first official headquarters for Meals on Wheels.
In addition, as part of the anniversary, Community Care said its popular “Meals to Go” program will return this December and March. The community is invited to purchase their lunch, often shared at their business or office, with a portion of the sales supporting Meals on Wheels.
Community members can also choose to donate meals to seniors in need. For December, Community Care has set a goal of reaching 600 donated meals to support seniors across the region. The next round of deliveries will take place on December 3, with orders open from October 25 to November 20. For more details, visit www.commcareptbo.org/mealstogo.
Over the decades, Meals on Wheels has grown with the support of hundreds of volunteers who have helped prepare and deliver meals, as well as contributions from donors, funders, and corporate sponsors.
“This community support ensures that meal costs remain affordable and that subsidies are available for those most in need,” Community Care noted.
Community Care Peterborough is a multi-service charitable organization dedicated to promoting health, wellness, and independence for seniors and adults with physical challenges across the city and county of Peterborough. With services including Meals on Wheels, transportation, wellness programs, and more, Community Care strives to enrich the lives of thousands of community members each year.
For more information on the Meals on Wheels program and the 60th anniversary celebrations, visit www.commcareptbo.org or call 705-742-7067.
