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Volunteers deserve big pat on the back
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Posted: 25/08/2009
IT is National Meals On Wheels Day tomorrow and to celebrate Wodonga councillor Edward Foulston will visit one of the service's newest recipients.
The Wodonga program relies heavily on volunteers to deliver meals to its residents seven
days per week, 365 days per year.
Wodonga has around 130 Meals On Wheels volunteers. Last year's figures show that 17,839 meals were delivered, which is approximately 343 meals each week.
In Wodonga, the council currently provides Meals On Wheels to approximately 100 individual clients. Of these 100 clients, 16 are husband/wife and receive meals between two and seven times per week.
Cr Foulston said the aim of National Meals On Wheels Day is to highlight what the service does and the volunteers it relies on to run smoothly.
“Wodonga's service has many community organisations and businesses helping it out, but there are also many long serving individual volunteers who have given more than 10 years service,” he said.
Cr Foulston said the service is always on the lookout for more volunteers to share the workload.
“There are many people living at home who rely on the support of community services such as Meals On Wheels, and the volunteers who make those services possible,” he said.
“There are many different runs, days and times that can be arranged to fit in with people's busy schedules if they are willing and able to help out.”
Meals On Wheels recipient Mona Taylor, 84, said she utilises the service when she is not feeling well.
“When I am sick, I can't get out to buy food,” she said.
“I have different volunteers come by and they are nice people.”
Wodonga Council recently renewed its contract with the Wodonga Regional Health Service for a further three years to provide the meals for the Meals On Wheels service.
