Meals on Wheels in the Indigo and Alpine regions have made way for a less personal food service from Lite n’ Easy, but support for the essential service is gathering momentum.
Locals have come together to explore alternative support for the elderly who rely on the human contact from Meals on Wheels volunteers as well as the meals.
Representatives from Rutherglen, Wahgunyah and Barnawartha, along with members of Lions and Rotary gathered at a community meeting last week to look at future options for local food support.
“It’s wonderful to see the service clubs and community groups express their concern for the situation,” Roberta said.
“There has been a strong community response and keen expressions of interest from all quarters to retain a similar service to that provided by Meals on Wheels over the last seven decades.
“The Rutherglen CWA has recently reformed and are also discussing their involvement.”
Julieanne Whyte, CEO of not-for-profit organisation Amaranth, was at the meeting and spoke about the meals available through Amaranth’s Corowa-based service.
“Amaranth offers tasty and nutritious, chef-prepared meals to all community members at a very reasonable cost, with no referral needed,” Ms Whyte said.
“Meals are currently available for collection only, but the group is eager to explore ways to continue a home delivery option, because we know for many people that knock at the door means just as much as the meal itself.”
Ms Horne is encouraged by the outpouring of community support in the wake of the Meals on Wheels disbandment and is looking forward to seeing what they can come up with.
“The meals that Amaranth provide are very nice, country style meals, like what you would have at home,” she said.
“We want to make it as close as possible to what Meals on Wheels were providing.
“There are lots of good things coming together, but we’ll need to wait a bit longer while the details get ironed out.”
Ms Horne and the Rutherglen community groups are working together to provide updates regarding the potential new service as they arise.
