Increased demand for meals
Meals on Wheels continued to be a valued service during lockdown with Baw Baw Shire reporting a small increase in demand over the past year.
It also reported demand for food relief in the shire is exceeding demand.
There has been one major change to Meals on Wheels – council staff delivering a majority of the meals due to COVID-19 restrictions.
Baw Baw Shire Council strategy, community services and finance acting executive manager Chrisanya Martin said currently 10 volunteers were supporting the council staff in delivering this service.
“Meals are carefully wrapped and delivered to the client’s front door,” Ms Martin said. “Staff wait to greet the client to check and see how they are going before moving on to the next delivery.”
“When mandatory face coverings were introduced, the team also delivered masks supplied by the Victorian Government to all Meals on Wheels clients,” she added.
Ms Martin said Baw Baw Shire Council had also partnered with the Community Activation and Social Isolation initiative (CASI) program. Through the program, a community connector officer has been appointed who identified demand for food relief in Baw Baw Shire was exceeding supply that’s available from existing sources such as Baw Baw Food Relief and Baw Baw Pantry.
“Council has received a donation of 150 fully funded meals from Meals on Wheels Victoria to provide between now and early December to support those that are homeless or at risk of homelessness, people with disabilities and young families with sudden hardship due to income loss or job loss,” Ms Martin said.
“In addition to Meals on Wheels deliveries, council’s social support team have been making weekly calls to Social Support clients check in on how they are and if they need any further assistance.”