Miss Your Smiles

“This is a sad turn of events” said Genny Vincent, vice chair of the board of Prince Edward Community Care for Seniors. “As of today, September 26, we are no longer be able to purchase Meals on Wheels from QHC Prince Edward County Memorial. Community Care could not afford the 104% to 224% increase QHC requires.”

In 1987, when the Prince Edward County Memorial Hospital became a meal supplier for Community Care’s Meals on Wheels program the two organizations developed a close working partnership to provide hot, nutritious meals to seniors and adults with physical disabilities in Prince Edward County. Volunteers pick up the meals at the noon hour and deliver them to the clients. For 16 years the program has worked like clockwork.

John A. Jackson, Community Care’s treasurer commented that “we have had a most pleasant and co-operative partnership with the Prince Edward County Memorial Hospital for the last 16 years. Unfortunately, under the current amalgamated management, the head office staff feel that they can no longer provide the Meals on Wheels to us at a reasonable and competitive price. Community Care is partially funded by the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care and partly funded through fundraising. We feel we must spend our funds in a prudent and cost-effective manner and thus we have made arrangements to obtain meals formerly provided by the hospital from alternate sources. I can assure you that the quality, quantity and variety will be at least equal to and indeed may surpass what our clients have come to expect.”

On October 1’st the local ON Works department will be replacing the hospital as a supplier of Meals on Wheels. The H. J. McFarland Memorial Home for the Aged and VersaCare Hallowell House have been providing Meals on Wheels since 1980.

Vincent was on hand at the hospital kitchen to formally say “thank you” to the workers who have provided the hands-on preparation of Meals on Wheels. Certificates of appreciation were presented to Laura Lee Harrington, Cheryl McCormick, Kim Wilson, Barb Fowler, and Norma Thompson. “We know our volunteers will miss your smiles as they picked up the meals” Vincent commented as she presented each with a framed certificate recognizing their contribution to the happiness and well-being of County seniors.

The Prince Edward County Community Care for Seniors Association provides community support services to eligible seniors and adults with physical disabilities who reside in Prince Edward. Services include transportation, Meals on Wheels, seniors’ dinners, foot care clinics, assistance with forms, and reassurance checks. For information on these and other programs call Prince Edward Community Care at 476-7493, stop in at the office located at The Armoury, 206 Main Street, Picton, or check the website at www.communitycareforseniors.org