The Citizen, 1998-10-07, Page 7In good taste
Yvonne Dettweiler packs up one of the many meals prepared for th_e -Meals on Wheels
diners in Brussels. Every Tuesday between October and May seniors and
developmentally challenged adults can receive a delicious homecooked meal prepared
and delivered by volunteers.
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THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 7, 1998. PAGE 7.
Meals on Wheels delivers for Brussels seniors
By Bonnie Gropp
Citizen staff
A good wholesome meal
delivered to your door for a nominal
fee. It's not a need, but rather
consider it a perc of being a senior
citizen.
The Meals on Wheels program
has been serving up dinner once a
week in Brussels since 1983.
Started by the Mennonite
Fellowship in the hopes of it
becoming a community project, it
was co-ordinated by Miriam Zehr.
In 1994 Yvonne Dettweiler took
over the job from Anne Hemingway
who had worked with the project for
10 years. She credits some of the
long-time volunteers with making
the transition smooth. "I wasn't sure
if I could handle this in the
beginning, but Helen Elliott, Ethel
Brewer and Ella Graber who were
there from the start and stayed on
were a tremendous help. They need
to be recognized."
While these women are no longer
involved, more volunteers have
come forward to take their place.
Each Tuesday morning from
October to May, they can be found
in the kitchen at the Brussels,
Morris and Grey Community Centre
preparing meals for 30-40 diners.
Volunteer callers have contacted
people on a list, who take advantage
of what Meals on Wheels offers.
They tell them the menu and find
out who is interested for that week.
For $5, diners get generous portions
of meat, potatoes, vegetables, salad
and dessert.
"A lot find that it's enough for
for transporting. "They stay very
hot," says Yvonne. "As a matter of
fact there have been many
comments on how hot the food is
when it arrives."
With a list to follow the drivers
can complete their routes in 10
minutes to half an hour.
"I have delivered when a driver
can't make it and I think that's what
keeps me going," says Yvonne.
"The people look forward to this,
not just to the meal but to the
contact. Unfortunately you can't
spend a whole lot of time talking
because you have hot meals to
deliver, but some people get a little
more time than others. It's hard to
limit it to a few minutes."
With many of the volunteer
drivers also being seniors, Yvonne
says the work can be a nice outing
for them as well. "And they like to
know they are doing something for
someone else. It's seniors helping
seniors."
While there may be some people
who consider Meals on Wheels as
an admittance that they can no
longer do things for themselves
Yvonne stresses this need not be the
case. "Many, I suppose, think 'I
don't need this. I can still cook.' But
we can all use a break and everyone
deserves it."
"I think they should look at it
instead as something they're entitled
to. It's there's and it's not a
handout."
Diner Jane DeVries agrees. "I
used to deliver and now I still do
calls for them sometimes. But I
enjoy the meals now. It's a nice
change from cooking for myself and
the food I'm getting I iknow is
wholesome."
The idea that saying 'I will' means
'I can't' doesn't exist for a lot of the
people who enjoy the meals. Jean
Teeft pointed out that often people
living alone just don't always
prepare the type of meals they
should. "This way they are
guaranteed a good meal on
Tuesdays."
"There are nights when I do set to
work and I prepare a good meal.
But I look forward to my Meals on
Wheels. The food is so good and
interesting and there's a wonderful
variety."
The criteria to be eligible for this
pampering is minimal — you must
be a senior or disabled and live in
Brussels, though Yvonne is
considering expanding the area if
interest warrants and volunteers
could be found.
Anyone who would like to
receive the Meals on Wheels
dinners for themselves or for a
parent, or would like to offer their
services as a volunteer can contact
at 887-6098.
two meals," says Yvonne, adding
with a smile ? "though I'm pretty
sure a few of the men eat the whole
thing in one sitting."
While some of the food has been
prepared earlier by Yvonne, the
three kitchen people have plenty to
do with potatoes to peel and salads
to toss.
The drivers arrive at 11:30 a.m.
and the meals are dished into foil
containers, then placed in coolers
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