Meals on Wheels has been serving the people of Fort Frances for 28 years and long-time member Marg Rousseau is hoping the tradition will continue.
“It started back in 1973 when some people got together and decided to form Meals on Wheels,” Rousseau said Monday. “Our program was created to help people who are unable to get out of their homes and are unable to make a meal for themselves.
“Through Meals on Wheels, individuals are able to receive a warm meal five days a week delivered to their door.”
Though never short of volunteers, Meals on Wheels co-ordinator Gabby Hanzuk is hoping to get some new faces involved.
“Our volunteers come from the various church, teacher, and service groups, as well as the sororities in town,” she noted. “I would say that about 95 percent of all the groups in town participate in our program.
“Our volunteers are the meat and potatoes of the organization and we could not do it without them,” she stressed. “However, we are always looking for new people to get involved.
“If someone can spare some of their time to help us out, we would certainly never turn them away,” Hanzuk added.
“In the summer we have about 50 volunteers,” she continued. “It takes approximately 1,000 people a year to keep this organization running. Luckily we have never had a problem getting people to help us out.
“All of our volunteers are very dedicated to what they do. We are very fortunate for that.”
A non-profit organization, Meals on Wheels currently is looking to raise money to replace the worn-out serving trays and inserts it has been using for the past 15 years.
“In 1986, the Legion donated 20 containers to Meals on Wheels,” recalled Rousseau. “Those containers have served us well for many years but now we need to get new ones.
“We have not priced them out yet but we are guessing they are going to cost us about $3,000.”
Despite their need to raise money, Meals on Wheels has done its best to ensure the price of the meals never increases for its clients.
“Many of the seniors who use the program are on a fixed income,” noted Rousseau. “I can’t imagine raising the price because they would not be able to afford it.
“Our job is to help them out, not to take money out of their pockets.”
At $4.50 per meal, Hanzuk is certain the price–as well as the quantity of food provided–is something those people using the service are satisfied with.
“Many of the women who get meals only have them delivered three times a week,” she noted. “They have told us that there is so much food that they save some of the meal and then have it the next day.
“The men in the program have never complained about the amount of food they get so we are assuming they are happy,” she added. “I think there is only one person who actually makes a side of toast to go along with his meal.”
While the program does not give people the option of picking what they would like to eat, they do offer a change of menu to those who have a specific food allergy or are diabetic.
“It would be impossible to have people give us each a specific menu,” Hanzuk said. “Rainycrest makes the meals for us and they do a wonderful job.
“It would be far too much work to have them make specific meals for individuals.”
With 2001 being the International Year of the Volunteer, both Hanzuk and Rousseau are taking the time to extend their appreciation to those who have helped make Meals on Wheels here a success.
“Our volunteers are the reason we are still able to do what we do,” Hanzuk stressed. “We have so many wonderful people working for us and giving a portion of their time to give a bit back to the community.
“We are so grateful for them and could not say thank you enough.”
To find out more on how to get involved with Meals on Wheels, contact Hanzuk at 274-3764.
Fort Frances Times
Local News from Across the Rainy River District
