Meals on Wheels (MoW), a non-profit organisation that was established in South Africa in 1964, is a food lifeline for thousands of people in the community.
It is these very people, including many pensioners and children, who are in danger of losing this lifeline should MoW not receive a vital shot in the arm in the way of funding.
Many of the Helderberg’s elderly, ill, disabled or destitute as well as children rely on Meals on Wheels for their food and any kind of social interaction.
Donations are used for serving well balanced cooked meals to seniors at their homes, as well as at the service centre.
MoW also cooks meals to dish out within the communities where MoW serve mostly needy children every week. Approximately 1 800 people, mainly children receive cooked meals from MoW.
These people receive a meal once a week, thus MoW reaches about 7 200 children a month through 10 points of delivery in the Helderberg Basin on a weekly basis.
MoW also provides a cooked meals to 210 pre-school children five days a week at a pre-school in Lwandle, as well as a crèche in Sir Lowry’s Pass Village.
Meals are cooked at the centre every Tuesday and Thursday and are sent out on those days to specific areas.
Volunteers, one a driver, the other a hopper, deliver the meals to those on the list, always giving a few more minutes to chat.
Besides the crucial home food delivery service, MoW runs an active community centre at their premises at 3 Parkway, Somerset West, offering tea, lunch, activities like choir and bingo and religious devotion.
But as for many organisations, good work is not enough and the serious dearth of funds might mean this good work has to stop.
Each meal must comprise meat, two veggies and a starch, and different numbers of meals have to leave the kitchen on different days.
So how can you help? “Either financially or in kind,” says MoW secretary, Desiree Pienaar. “Any donation is greatly appreciated, either a one-off or if people could donate regularly, that would be wonderful.
“We always need extra hoppers and drivers. Without them, no meals could be delivered. There’s always an opening for volunteers.”
Donations are tax deductible, and MoW will issue a Section 18A for that purpose. Donations from businesses and the private sector are welcome and appreciated.
If you can help Meals on Wheels, please contact Desiree Pienaar on 021 851 4969, 071 897 9028 or hothollmow@telkomsa.net, or Debbie Hoyle on 021 851 6386, 083 670 1956 or hoyle@ iafrica.com
