Programs & Services
Meals on Wheels Home Delivery Service
Currently, meal deliveries are made 365 days of the year within Fredericton city limits and in the Village of New Maryland. The essential task of getting the meals from the kitchens to those who need them is carried out exclusively by volunteers. Our dedicated volunteers deliver, on average, 140 meals per day; 3500 meals per month. In the fiscal year 2011-2012, volunteers enabled Meals on Wheels of Fredericton to deliver over 36,000 meals to clients at their doors.
A strict organizational standard of Meals on Wheels is that our meals must be freshly prepared, balanced and nutritious.
Our meals are prepared by the Dr. Everett Chalmers Hospital and York Manor Nursing Home, and these two well equipped facilities enable us to accommodate most diet restrictions, including allergies, diabetic diets and various food intolerances.
Many of the clients who receive meal service from Meals on Wheels have private contract arrangements with us. Since many clients, and especially many seniors, are on limited, fixed incomes, they are not able to afford the increasing cost of healthy daily nutrition. Consequently, we raise funds by various means in order to subsidize the cost of our meals and ensure that they remain affordable for those who need a nutritional support service.
Many other clients come to us as referrals from community agencies such as The Department of Social Development, The Department of Veterans Affairs, The Extra Mural Program, Saint Mary’s Health Centre and the Victorian Order of Nurses. As such, the cost of their meals may be subsidized by the referring agency.
There is another important circumstantial benefit that comes with the home delivery service. An unfortunate reality is that many seniors and others with limited mobility often have minimal contact with the outside world. Our drivers come to know the people on their routes, and so in addition to providing nutrition to sustain the client’s health and independence, a meal delivery by a Meals on Wheels volunteer also serves as a daily safety check and a source of social contact for many clients.
Brochure: mow-brochure
Wheels to Meals: Seniors Dining Out
Since 1999 clients have had the opportunity to participate in Wheels To Meals; Fredericton’s Seniors Dine-Out Luncheon Program. This program allows seniors go out to the meal where they can socialize, enjoy a hot home cooked meals and a variety of local entertainment. Our goal is to combat all-to-frequent issue of isolation and loneliness, while supporting healthy nutrition and independence.
- Chatting with friends at Wheels to Meals.
The Wheels to Meals luncheon takes place every Tuesday between September and June. A three-course meal is prepared on site by our cook Debbie and FYI she makes the best buicuits in the world. The cost is currenty set at $7.50 per meal. In oder to keep the cost down we conduct fundraisers throughout the year. Our primary fundraiser is our annual spring Bikeathon event.
This luncheon program run very smoothly thanks to the 30 wonderfully dedicated volunteers. Between the kitchen staff, servers, hall prep and clean up volunteers, drivers who pick up clients and safely return them to their homes, clents leave feeling quite satisfied.
Transportation to Wheels to Meals is available for those who need it, and is provided by dedicated and caring volunteers.
For reservations call 458-9482 by 10:00 a.m. Monday.
Brochure: wtm-brochure
Gift Certificates
The preparation of a healthy meal can become a difficult undertaking when one is dealing with impairment related to age or other causes. In reality, there are times when all of us would appreciate to be served a healthy, tasty meal rather than to go through the effort of preparing one for ourselves. If there are people in your life who you know might appreciate a break from meal preparation, we offer gift certificates for single or multiple home delivered nutritious meals.
Gift Certificates are a thoughtful way to reach out to someone you are thinking about; in a time of need, to say Get Well Soon, Happy Mothers Day, Happy Fathers Day, Happy Any Day.
Gift certificates can be redeemed for our meal delivery program Meals on Wheels, or for our seniors luncheon program Wheels to Meals.
