12 Living Oakville Beaver LIVING EDITOR: WILMA BLOKHUIS www.oakvillebeaver.com Phone 905-845-3824 (ext. 250) Fax 905-337-5567 email blokhuis@haltonsearch.com · WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 11, 2006 Meals on Wheels celebrates 30 years we wouldn't have this program." Kiwanis members deliver on all holidays from Thanksgiving to Good Friday. "We're older than some of the The Kiwanis Club of Oakville people we deliver meals to," chuckhas sponsored Meals on Wheels le Wib and Louise Erwin, who in since its inception. Tom Northcott, their 80s are long-established who was involved from the Oakville Kiwanis Meals on beginning, said Meal on Wheels volunteers. Wheels began with the Louise has delivered delivery of five meals on meals since the agency Oct. 4, 1976. The service began 30 years ago she is was launched at St. Jude's the agency's only remaining Church. "That quickly first volunteer and Wib grew to 15 and 25. Oakville has been treasurer and has Trafalgar Memorial delivered meals for some 21 Hospital, which prepared years ever since he retired. the meals for Meals on Currently, they deliver Wheels since its inception, 36 meals in bulk to VON's told us they can't do more Alzheimer Day Program at than 50 meals a day. At first Sheridan College one day a people were reluctant to week. accept the meals but the "We started delivering to program has caught on." the VON Alzheimer proDuring the past six gram 10 years ago," said months, Kiwanis Meals on Louise. Wheels has delivered 9,108 "Before that, we had our hot meals, 1,706 sandwichregular routes and we did es and 4,808 frozen meals. relief routes. I've done The frozen meals, offeralmost all of the routes," ing a selection of more Wib said, adding there are TERESA THOMPSON / SPECIAL TO THE BEAVER about eight to 10 clients per SPECIAL DELIVERY: This photo of Louise and than 50 menu items, are route. Wib Erwin appears on the front cover of the Oakville prepared by Private Recipe. The hot meals are prepared "It was nice to visit with Kiwanis Meals on Wheels brochure. under the auspices of an the people who received the Kiwanis Meals on Wheels has OTMH dietitian and provide 20 difmeals," said Louise. "We did more than just deliver meals we would 102 volunteers delivering about ferent meals on a four-week rotatalk to them. We would help them 31,500 hot and frozen meals annu- tion. The hot meals cost $4.50 each, cut their meat...help them with ally. Deliveries are made five days a soup and dessert are $1.35 each, and a sandwich is $1.75. It is fundtheir meal. At the VON, we don't see week at noon. It has two staff, intern executive ed by the Ontario Ministry of the clients." Louise, who cut the 30th director Pat Ogborn and associate Health and Long-Term Care. "We provide meals to people anniversary cake at a celebration director Jacqui Gardner. It is estimated the agency has who are recovering from surgery, held Thursday at Town Hall, was inspired to volunteer with Meals on delivered some 450,000 meals dur- or a man who cannot cook ing its 30-year history. whose wife is in hospital," said Wheels by her mother. "We meet the nutritional needs Ogborn. "Our youngest client was a "Before I lost my mother, I used to spend one day a week with her. of our clients and provide fellow- 36-year-old who had broken four After she died, I needed something ship," said Bob Griesbach, chair of bones in her legs and couldn't walk to fill the time and then I saw a the Kiwanis Meals on Wheels board she couldn't stand up to prepare notice in The Oakville Beaver that of directors. "Kiwanis Club mem- her own meals. "Our frozen meals are popular Meals on Wheels was looking for bers deliver meals on statutory holidays, but without our volunteers with active seniors who don't volunteers." OAKVILLE LIVING EDITOR By Wilma Blokhuis Before Wib started delivering, "my oldest grandson, Christopher Earp, helped his grandmother deliver meals," said Louise. "He helped me with deliveries on holidays, school holidays and during the summer." RON KUZYK / OAKVILLE BEAVER THIRTY YEARS: Louise Erwin, an Oakville Kiwanis Meals on Wheels volunteer for 30 years, serves a piece of cake to former Burlington MPP and candidate for mayor of Burlington, Cam Jackson, at the 30th anniversary of Meals on Wheels at Oakville Town Hall. Looking on is Halton MPP Ted Chudleigh. always have time to cook. This way, they're getting a balanced diet. "If we go to a home and there's no answer we call the hospital and the client's emergency contact to follow-up," said Ogborn. "Recently, our volunteers found a lady hadn't been home for two days and found out she was in the hospital. "In a lot of cases we are the ones who call the ambulance. Our volunteers don't just deliver meals, we make sure our clients are OK." For more information about Kiwanis Meals on Wheels, see www.oakvillekiwanis.com/mow or call 905-842-1411. Wilma Blokhuis can be reached at blokhuis@haltonsearch.com. Our Best Sale Doctor's appointments arranged EVER! all Lenses COMPLETE PACKAGES include Lens & frame Thin lenses Anti-reflective Anti-scratch Single Vision from Incredible Savings on VISIT OUR EXPERTS TO REVIEW HUNDREDS OF OPTIONS FOR YOU! Incredible deals on lined & no-line bifocals SPACE OPTICAL 125 Cross Ave. (across from Home Depot) Oakville 905-842-2821 $ 193 Limited time offer based on availability