Biggest Meals & Wheels group in Laois and Offaly needs helpers
The biggest Meals on Wheels service in Laois and Offaly has put out a call for more volunteers.
Portarlington Meals on Wheels cooks and serves up a phenomenal 80 nutritious tasty dinners into the hands of local elderly people in their homes, three days a week.
While they have a huge cast of volunteer delivery drivers, some are no longer available and more are needed to keep the huge service running smoothly.
Ann Bourke Dunne is on the committee and told the Leinster Express / Laois Live more.
"We do have over 70 volunteer drivers but we have to have back-ups on the roster. People jump in when others can't do it, they are great," she said.
Her callout on social media last week received some eight responses within hours she said, but she welcomes more people to contact her.
"It's a testament to the good support in Portarlington, people are great," Ann said.
The volunteer drivers are usually on duty only once a month or so.
Six of them go out at a time on six routes, delivering the hot meals to people who need them from insulated boxes in the boots of their cars.
They cover a wide catchment area from Garryhinch to Bracknagh, Killenard to Ballybrittas. They use their own cars and pay their own fuel.
The only people who are paid in the service, part funded by the HSE, are the four kitchen staff, who cannot be volunteers, for insurance and qualification reasons, Ann said.
The meals are cooked in a purpose built kitchen in the social services centre in the heart of Portarlington, near the Leisure Centre. The centre also serves as a social hub for local elderly people.
Meals on Wheels was recently lost in Portlaoise and is also facing volunteer shortages in Stradbally.
“In the last month I've got at least 10 calls from Portlaoise, because people google Meals on Wheels in Laois and we come up. People were looking for dinners but we can't deliver to Portlaoise. I tell them to contact the health board or their local doctor or nurse instead.
The service, which was recently lost in Portlaoise and is also facing volunteer shortages in Stradbally, is vital she said.
"It's very important to people, more than ever. People are living longer now. We have a good many aged in their 90s, they might be living alone, or there's a family member out working. To get three dinners given to them is a great help.
"It keeps people out of nursing homes which cost an awful lot more. Then there is the interaction, they love the call and the chat. Covid was terrible because we had to leave the containers outside," she said.
She adds that their volunteers are Garda vetted.
Those who wish to avail of the service can request it from their doctor or health nurse. Volunteers can get in contact directly with Ann on 087 4116101 or any Port Meals on Wheels representative.