Emilee Fanjoy (left) and Bev Beck figure out where these hot meals are going as they prepare to deliver them to Nelson residents in need over the lunch hour during the month of February.

Serving a hot lunch to people who are ill or disabled gives Kootenay Lake forest district and Nelson forest regional office staff a warm feeling.

Volunteers from service clubs are getting older and less able to continue while need is for Meals on Wheels delivery in Nelson is increasing.

Alex Walker, co-ordinator for Meals on Wheels, says traditionally, churches and service clubs have delivered meals to people who are not able to cook for themselves. Now, more and more places of employment are offering to help out.

"The idea of organizations and employers supporting these kinds of programs is relatively new," Alex said. "Employers are encouraging their staff to get involved in the community." They realize employees who do that "generally make better employees. They become more aware of the needs of the community and they get connected."

This trend comes at a time when religious congregations are ageing and getting smaller, so other groups are needed to pick up the slack. Volunteers are in high demand and for delivering meals three days a week to continue, six helpers with wheels are needed on top of kitchen help. Public need for the service has also increased.

The Kootenay Lake forest district office enjoys almost 100 per cent participation every November, when its staff deliver meals. The Nelson regional office takes on the deliveries in February each year.

"It is an easy thing to help out in the community," says Debbie Laidlaw of the Nelson office. "It gives me a feeling of satisfaction, that I can help somebody less fortunate."

NOTE: after this article appeared in the Nelson Daily News, the Meals on Wheels program received calls from other organizations and ministries in the city, with offers to deliver meals.

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www.canadian-health-network.ca/1seniors.html