Community News

HUGE REWARD FOR MEALS ON WHEELS VOLUNTEERS

PAUL FORSYTH

Theresa Prentice's in-laws used to volunteer with Meals on Wheels in Niagara Falls back when the 54-year-old chapter was brand new, so even though she had kids still in Grade 7 and 8, she eventually decided to start delivering meals to vulnerable people in the city, too.

"I wanted to show them it's a good thing to volunteer, to help people," she said

That was about 40 years ago, and she's still going strong, delivering nutritious meals in Niagara Falls while also nourishing clients' need for human contact and kindness.

At the allied health building next to the Niagara Falls hospital site, Prentice and other volunteers recently loaded frozen and hot meals into vehicles and prepared to fan out to do their deliveries.

Prentice is one of about 180 volunteers — many over age 65

themselves — who deliver about 36,000 modestly priced meals to upwards of 800 clients a year in Niagara Falls and Niagara-on the-Lake.

After close to two years of not being able to step inside clients' homes because of the pandemic — porch drops and watching to make sure clients open their doors to get the meals were the protocol all that time — volunteers can once again step inside and chat for a few minutes, said Marianne McRae, executive director of the local Meals on Wheels program.

"Our volunteers missed it terribly, going in to see the folks," said McRae. "The clients really missed it, too. They know it's only going to be brief, they know the next person is waiting for their meal, but it's human contact."

For some clients, the visits by Meals on Wheels volunteers can often be the only human contact they have all day, said McRae.

Prentice said most clients, many of whom are unable to cook for themselves due to physical limitations or cognitive issues such as dementia that would make cooking dangerous, are almost always thankful for the deliveries and visits.

"I always feel better after," she said. "I feel like I've done something."

Equally as important as the nutrition, the meal deliveries serve a crucial double duty as welfare checks for people who may be isolated and in danger of issues such as falling, said McRae.

"We're often the only ones going in," she said.

One time, Prentice was trying to deliver a meal but the older female client wasn't answering her door.

"I couldn't get into the house but I knew the lady was there: I could see her feet," she said. "She'd fallen and she was there the whole night; she couldn't get up."

Prentice reported it, resulting in a quick response to come to the woman's aid.

McRae said the meal deliveries play an important part in allowing clients to remain home and avoid institutionalization as long as possible, resulting in a higher quality of life. Even for some awaiting placement in a long-term-care home, the meal deliveries can mean clients often avoid being warehoused in a hospital bed, she said.

Prentice said volunteering is not time consuming — an hour or two four times a month, then a onemonth break before repeating the cycle.

"It's rewarding and I think I'm helping people," she said. "One day, somebody might have to do it for me, so it's kind of paying it forward."

McRae said her agency is always looking for new volunteers, noting many of the existing volunteers are becoming older themselves.

"One of these days is going to be scary; they'll all be at the same stage at the same time and won't be able to do it anymore," she said.

People interested in volunteering with Meals on Wheels or supporting the non-profit, charitable agency financially can call the chapter at 905-356-7548.

STORY BEHIND THE STORY: Niagara This Week looked at the impact that the local Meals on Wheels chapter covering Niagara Falls and Niagara-on-the-Lake is having on clients who depend on the meal deliveries.

FRONT PAGE

en-ca

2023-03-23T07:00:00.0000000Z

2023-03-23T07:00:00.0000000Z

https://communitynews.pressreader.com/article/281487870595825

Metroland Media Group Ltd.