Meals on Wheels urgently requesting volunteers to deliver to those in need
Posted May 31, 2023 5:01 pm.
A food delivery program that supports Toronto seniors in the east end is urgently requesting volunteers.
Meals on Wheels said their volunteer numbers have decreased significantly since the COVID-19 pandemic and have not returned to previous levels despite a growing need.
The program is running with limited amount of volunteers they need to to run the essential service for older adults, people facing health challenges and people returning from hospital visits, many of whom are living beyond below the poverty.
Adriano Murarotto, executive director of the East York Meals on Wheels, said demand has increased 60 per cent since the pandemic, yet they are working with about 25 per cent of the volunteers they used to have.
“Pre-pandemic, we were at around 80 to 100 volunteers, volunteer drivers, and right now, probably about 25 per cent of that.”
They also expect those numbers to decrease further over the summer.
“Volunteers are our backbone. About 46,000 Ontarians receive affordable, nutritious meals across the province,” explained Murarotto. “We have about 125 agencies … to serve about 3.5 million meals each year. And none of that can be done without the help of our volunteers.”
He said they are struggling across the province to keep providing these much needed meals.
“We are struggling across the province to raise funds and increase funding from the province to help support this great community work that we’re doing. So we need volunteers but we also need to help advocating for these community services, services to sustain growth, this increased demand and we couldn’t do it without the community,” said Murarotto.
Murarotto encourages those who can help to reach out to their local Meals on Wheels program and see what help they may need.
“So we’re looking for drivers that are willing to commit a morning, typically between say 1030 and 1230 … So we’re looking specifically for about two to three drivers for a volunteer,” said Murarotto.
Tabitha is a volunteer with Meals on Wheels and loves the opportunity to give back. “Volunteering is the best thing. You do a good deed you help out and they will love you.”
He adds driving isn’t the only way to help. “A non-driver or volunteer departmental work is also needed and you can help with that.”
For more information, you can go to their website.
