Meals on Wheels is a program that delivers prepared meals to individuals at home who are unable to purchase or prepare their own food and are often elderly and housebound. The program was started in England during the second war, and, over the years has spread into a worldwide outreach. North Shore Meals on Wheels receives funding from a variety of sources in the community, and is part of a network of services that works to ensure clients can maintain their independence and remain in their homes.
North Lonsdale United Church has had an association with North Shore Meals on Wheels since 1969. Together with St. David’s United Church in West Vancouver, we coordinate the packaging and distribution of meals on the North Shore. Our involvement includes providing kitchen and storage space, as well as volunteers who join volunteers from the larger community, working together to distribute meals three days a week on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays.
Meals are prepared and delivered in bulk by a local caterer, packaged by a kitchen crew, and delivered to clients by volunteer drivers. Volunteers from North Lonsdale assist in the kitchen on Mondays and Wednesdays. This valuable service “to the community by the community” involves many hundreds of volunteer hours each year, and truly makes a difference in people’s lives. In addition to helping maintain nutritional health, it is an important means, via the drivers, of keeping people connected with their community and triggering other community supports when issues are identified.
Increasing demand for this service requires the increased support of caring volunteers to serve in the kitchen packaging food, and as drivers to deliver food and interact with clients.
If you can spare time once a week on a Monday, Wednesday, or Friday between 11:15 AM and 1:00 PM, we would love to hear from you.
If you would like to benefit from this program by receiving regular nutritional meals, please contact Meals on Wheels during office hours, Monday, Wednesday and Friday, 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM, at (604) 922-3414.