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Company staff initiative delivers Meals on Wheels

Staff from the Traralgon Branch of Employment Innovations Victoria have stepped into the breach to deliver Meals on Wheels to Traralgon clients

By Latrobe City Council - 16th January 2002 - Back to News

Staff from the Traralgon Branch of Employment Innovations Victoria have stepped into the breach to deliver Meals on Wheels to Traralgon clients, in response to a call by Latrobe City for more volunteers.

The five Traralgon staff, Site Manager Traralgon, Michelle Dickson, Marg Palmer, Varey Shaw, Kate Siemans and Site Manager Sale, Stuart McDougal, will work together to provide a monthly rostered on team of two, who will use their lunch hours to deliver the much needed meals.

Marg Palmer, who together with Varey Shaw comprised the first rostered pair to make Meals on Wheels deliveries last Thursday, said helping as a Meals on Wheels volunteer provided a very real way of being able to offer something back to the community. "It’s a service that either one of us or our loved ones may someday need," Ms Palmer said.

"Prior to Christmas we had discussions around our office and a number of us wanted to contribute to community activity and put something back into our local area. Staff at our Employment Innovations Morwell branch have been delivering Meals on Wheels in that area since July of last year, and as they indicated their volunteering was greatly appreciated, it seemed a good way for us to go.

"We were welcomed with open arms as there’s a real need for volunteers in Traralgon, and apart from viewing our first day on the job with some trepidation in case we got lost or delivered the wrong thing to the wrong place, we looked forward to the experience," Ms Palmer said.

"At each home we were warmly received and the people we were delivering meals to made us very welcome. The good news is that we arrived back from our delivery with empty eskies, which means we hadn’t forgotten to deliver any of the meals along the way. We are very much looking forward to our next delivery day as Meals on Wheels volunteers," Ms Palmer.

Latrobe City Mayor, Councillor Brendan Jenkins, said the initiative by Employment Innovations staff to field teams of volunteers to help with Meals on Wheels was a great credit to themselves and their employers. "This is a tremendous way that staff within business organisations can significantly contribute to the welfare of others. They are to be congratulated on their initiative," Cr Jenkins said.

"It would be wonderful if other local businesses could consider creating their own group of volunteers to help with Meals on Wheels. There is a growing need for this service to ensure the future welfare of our citizens; and business organisations have shown that with a little resourcefulness they can tap into the talents and good will of their own employees to benefit their local community," Cr Jenkins added.

Further information on being a Meals on Wheels volunteer, please contact Latrobe City, telephone 1300 367 700.

Source: www.gippsland.com

Published by: latrobecity@gippslander.com

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