Paul Morgan receives Meals on Wheels throughout the week, hot lunches and frozen dinners. He was hit by a truck in 2005 and still suffers from his injuries. Unable to work, the recent passing of his stepmother has left him feeling isolated.

Getting meal deliveries not only nourishes his body but helps his mental wellbeing through his interactions with volunteers, he explained. “My step-mother’s passing and injuries have really complicated my life, and it’s been difficult looking after myself alone” Paul said. “I’m eternally grateful for all the services that Community Care is providing.”

Last year Community Care Durham delivered more than 115,000 meals (hot and frozen) to vulnerable residents across Durham Region. More than a meal, Meals on Wheels is a friendly visit and safety check from a volunteer helping to address the dangers of isolation faced by so many.

This month Community Care Durham is joining communities across Ontario to support March for Meals, an annual campaign dedicated to raising awareness of this long-standing valuable service.

Helping us spread the word will be many of our elected representatives who will be delivering meals during Community Champions Week, March 17 to 21.

“Our elected representatives can always be counted on to help,” said James Meloche, CEO, Community Care Durham. “Not only are they helping to deliver meals, but they are also shining a light on the importance of community programs and volunteerism.”

Volunteers are the backbone of Meals on Wheels. Last year we had 460 volunteers help deliver both hot and frozen meals to our clients, providing them with nutritious food, safety checks, and much-needed social interactions. In some cases, the volunteers dropping off the meals were the only friendly faces some clients saw that day.

“These touchpoints are so important. Our volunteers want to ensure that you get your meal, but they also want to see how you’re doing and if something is wrong, they can alert staff back at the office who will follow up,” Meloche said.

Delivering Meals on Wheels creates community impact not just for our residents, but for the volunteers. In our latest 2024 Volunteer Survey, 96% of our volunteers said volunteering at CCD makes them feel personally happier and healthier.

Community Care Durham is always looking for new volunteers for the program. Volunteering only takes a couple of hours a week and volunteers can deliver meals to clients in their own community.

For more information about our Meals on Wheels program, please visit: https://www.communitycaredurham.on.ca/services/meals-on-wheels/

To find out how you can volunteer, please visit: https://www.communitycaredurham.on.ca/volunteering/

Media Contact:

Ian McMillan, Communications Specialist
Community Care Durham
Phone: 905-430-1863 (cell: 905-431-8700)
Email: imcmillan@communitycaredurham.on.ca