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Orv 3 « » ' aa ER a. ¢ CARRERE RC rr Mrs. Lindsay (left) delivers meal to'Mr. and Mrs. William Moase. Program gives seniors indepedence, freedom It was kind of a joke when Meals on Wheels first started operating in the Port Perry area. 'People thought we were crazy," said pro- gram co-ordinator Judy MacColl. "They thought there was no need_ for -it here." Now, almost five years later, there is little doubt that Meals on Wheels, had, is, and most certainly will continue to provide a service PORT that is not only needed, but is a necessary part of the senior citizen program in the area that allows freedom for the senior citizen that would otherwise be dependancy. In at least one or two cases, recalled by Mrs. MacColl, the program was the only thing that kept senior citizens in their own homes. Determined not to move to old age or nursing PERRY homes yet unable to perhaps get downtown to pick up their groceries or prepare a meal for themselves, it was Meals on Wheels volunteers who gave them the freedom of choice between their own home or moving to a nursing home. } "And that," says Mrs. MacColl, "is the idea of the program. To provide a cer- tain independence for senior citizens, a choice that other- wise wouldn't be there." There are many reasons SECOND Ld ~ SECTION PORT PERRY, ONTARIO -- WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 28, 1976 -- PAGE 17 HEX S170 PINES PEE Re Nursing Home cook Sylvia Ferguson packs meals RY ASHI, Jha ya Sd) 8 why the elderly might take advantage of the program. "Some simply can't get out to do the shopping," said Mrs. MacColl, "'while others may not be able to get around the kitchen." There are also those who after loosing a spouse, are depressed and unable to take care of their own needs. Or the man who, after losing his wife, is faced with cook- ing for himself for the first time in his life. But by far the most important factor is the pro- vision of a choice between staying at home or moving to a care facility. For those who are not willing to take such a step, the program is a means of preserving their indepen- dence and dignity. Since becoming opera- tional here in October of 1971, over 50 people have taken advantage of the pro- gram. The number of people Mr. and Mrs. Lorne Duff take advantage of program on the program at any one time, fluctuates. There are now abut nine people being "served their meals at home. All are in the Port Perry- Prince Albert-Manchester area. All are full-course meals cooked by the Community Nursing Home kitchens. Volunteer drivers, over 30 of them, take turns delivering these meals to senior citi- zens. A $1 cost charged by the Nursing Home is passed on to the senior citizens, although Mrs. MacColl said that there's been some who have taken part in the pro- gram who were unable to pay. "We won't turn anyone away," she said. Perhaps the most un- usual thing about the local program is that it operates on a shoestring. In many areas, such programs are handled by the Red Cross or some other organizations. Here, Meals on Wheels is backed by no single organiz- ation. To raise money for such things as containers for food and other unrecoverable costs, Meal on Wheels has had to stage a mini-cam- paign of local organizations. The effort has been quite successful in the past, thanks to generous donations. But this winter, the organiza- tion's bank account dwindled to just a few dollars. Letters have already gone out to area clubs and organizations, and already some donations have been received. Other officers of the organization are Mrs. Mary Cannon and daughter Mary Cannon. "But it's only with the help of 'a lot of people--the driver volunteers and others, that we've been able to do so much," said Mrs. MacColl. Saray eT ST «3 » v Dar