Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, Airdrie Meals on Wheels Society has continued to ensure members of the community stay fed by delivering food to households around the community.
“I am so proud of all of our volunteers,” said President May Geddert. “They’re almost like frontline workers. We have not, since COVID-19, not delivered a meal, not cancelled, not anything.”
According to Geddert, the City of Airdrie deemed Meals on Wheels an essential service and volunteer drivers have been delivering meals five days a week. Three drivers cover Monday, Wednesday and Friday – which are the busiest days – and two make deliveries on Tuesday and Thursday.
“We have anywhere between 35 and 40 steady clients,” Geddert said. “We’re up a bit, but nothing to the point where we can’t handle it.”
Unfortunately, some of the organization's volunteers fall within the age group most vulnerable to the virus, she said, and have had to step back from making deliveries.
A number of new protocols have been implemented because of the virus, Geddert said. Drivers have had to stagger meal pick-ups from Cedarwood Station – where the meals are prepared – so that only one volunteer is there at a time. During deliveries, drivers wear masks and gloves, and the reusable bags they use for the deliveries are frequently sanitized.
“When the drivers go to the [client’s] door, they knock and the clients know there’s social distancing,” Geddert said. “What the drivers do is hand the lunch bag to the client and then ask them to take the meals out of the bag, and then hand the bag back.”
For many clients – and even some drivers – the deliveries served an important social function, Geddert said. The deliveries were the only interaction some clients had during the day, and were also a moment for volunteers to check on the welfare of clients. Because of the pandemic, those interactions have had to be limited, which is a challenge for both the clients and the drivers.
“You kind of feel sorry for them, because some of our clients, they’re alone all day. Now with COVID-19, it’s automatically all the worse,” she said.
The pandemic has also put the organization’s funding at risk. According to Geddert, Airdrie Meals on Wheels Society subsidizes up to half the cost of the meals it delivers. In order to do that, it relies on donations from the community.
Because the pandemic has prevented fundraising events, Geddert said the organization has been unable to solicit funds. Luckily, the community has stepped forward and supported them. As an example, Geddert pointed to a recent donation by 100 Airdrie Men Who Give A Damn, who gave $3,500 to the organization in late April.
“Anything we get is muchly appreciated,” she said.
As Airdrie Meals on Wheels continues delivering food to local households, Geddert said the community can support the organization by either making a donation or by volunteering as a driver – both of which are needed.
Information on donating or becoming a volunteer is available at airdriemealsonwheels.com
Ben Sherick, AirdrieToday.com
Follow me on Twitter @BenSherick
