The Prince George Council of Seniors Meals on Wheels program has become a victim of its own success
This program currently provides meals to around 80 regular clients and is delivering over 1,000 meals per month. This is more than double the volume from a year ago.
Meals on Wheels is desperate for more volunteers.
The client load has become larger than the capacity of the program’s current volunteer base.
Meals on Wheels are delivered in the Bowl area of Prince George weekdays. Volunteer drivers pick up the packaged hot meals at the kitchen (Seniors Activity Centre at Fourth and Brunswick) at 10:45 a.m., deliver to individual client’s homes, then return insulated bags to the kitchen for the next day.
Volunteer drivers use their own vehicles and donate their time and gas. The program coordinator, Nicole Currie, strives to make each route as geographically compact as possible. Each route averages 10 or more clients. The current client load is pushing the volunteer time commitment past the usual one to one and a half hours.
Meals on Wheels is currently limiting the number of new clients accepted each week. Without more volunteers this Program may have to temporarily turn away any new clients.
The volunteer time commitment is far from daunting. Most volunteers drive once per week. Short term volunteers are welcome as temporary help over the summer months – particularly on Wednesdays – while regular volunteers are away on vacation would be helpful although more volunteers are critical year round.
To become a Meals on Wheels volunteer, individuals must complete a volunteer application form and provide a criminal record check and driver’s abstract as well as have a valid driver’s license and reliable vehicle. Forms are available at the Seniors Resource Centre, 721 Victoria Street, Prince George.