A NEW HOME FOR MEALS ON WHEELS
THE ASSOCIATION INCLUDES MEALS ON WHEELS, WITH A NEW BUILDING INCLUDING A MODERN AND STATE-OF-THE ART KITCHEN, AS WELL AS A BRIGHT AND SPACIOUS ROOM FOR GATHERINGS AND PERFORMANCES WRITES MARY FOGARTY
RAY Old Folks Association has moved into an impressive brand- new facility at Bray’s primary health care centre, 56 years after they were founded. The association includes Meals on Wheels, with the new building including a modern and stateof-the art kitchen, as well as a bright and spacious room for gatherings, performances and more.
Paintings by local man Ray Cranley are among the art hanging on the walls. Pandemic notwithstanding, Ray is one of the musicians who plays for members every Wednesday night.
Chairperson of BOFA Eleanor Murphy and treasurer Billy Hannon are thrilled to be in their new facility. Billy has been involved with the association for 17 years, and Eleanor 38 years on the committee.
Old folks activities are on hold for the moment, until they can safely return to the new centre. However, Meals on Wheels has ramped up, adding an extra day to its service. Dinners previously went out on Tuesdays and Thursdays, with Saturday now added to the schedule.
At the start of the Covid-19 crisis, an appeal was made for volunteer drivers, chefs, and other helpers, and there was a massive response. Many of those who have been volunteering for years, had been asked to stay home cocooning, so the call went out and the people of the area did not disappoint.
The organisation was moved off the site two years ago in February in order for the construction of the primary care centre to proceed. Sunbeam House Services was able to accommodate them in their premises on Killarney Road. Members and organisers waited patiently and with great anticipation to move back in to upgraded accommodations.
‘ They were very good, excellent,’ said Eleanor of their time at the Sunbeam property. ‘Anything we needed there was no problem.’
The outgoing building owed nothing to Bray Old Folks Association. ‘It had an expected life-span of 20 years and we had it for 40 years,’ said Tommy. ‘It was definitely time for a change.’
The kitchen and function room gave them many happy memories but was getting beyond the point where it could feasibly be used.
They were confident that the project would be completed. ‘We knew we were coming to a stateof-the art facility. All of this had been negotiated and put in place before we moved out. It was a long, hard fight, but it all came together,’ said Tommy. ‘We were happy enough to move out based on the promises made to us. True to their word, here we are.’
He said that the builders, Collen Construction, had been excellent. Last week, a spokesman from the developer was still on site, ensuring any snags were dealt with immediately.
‘We do one fundraising drive a year,’ said Eleanor. ‘ That’s a house-to-house collection.’
‘It’s our principal fundraising effort,’ said Tommy. ‘It’s an envelope drop and collection. We’ve been doing it for many years. The people of Bray are very generous, we only need to do it once a year.’ He said that sometimes people make other donations separately, and occasionally leave money in wills.
The HSE contributes to a quarter of the expenses for Meals on Wheels.
There are a few small things yet to be done. ‘We’ll have armchairs and coffee tables for people to sit and read,’ said Eleanor.
Tommy said that there will also be broadband, a library, and TV. ‘It’s all coming together,’ said Eleanor.
Usually, there is dancing on a Wednesday night, bingo nights, sing-alongs, themed events at Halloween, Easter and other times, and much more.
Other organisations in the town also avail of the space regularly, including Wicklow Dementia Support, CASA, Order of Malta and others.
The members are looking forward to returning when they can. ‘I have spoken to a number of people on the phone and they can’t wait,’ said Eleanor.
‘ The older members are the ones who are losing out,’ said Tommy. ‘ They are the ones cocooning and locked down. The lack of opportunity to get out and socialise will have a great impact on them.’
Both he and Eleanor remarked that a large number of young people came forward to help in this time of need for Meals on Wheels.
The team now includes people from secondary schools and colleges, as well as chefs who found themselves not working.
‘We are very grateful to them,’ said Eleanor. ‘We couldn’t have done it without them.’
‘We were surprised to see so many young people,’ said Tommy. ‘It would restore your faith in people.’
Tommy said that the new kitchen is brilliant from a health and safety point of view. Everything is at the same level, so big heavy pots don’t need to be lifted. It’s an extremely well designed facility with all the best of technology to help the volunteers get the meals cooked for Meals on Wheels.
Chef Lisa Martin, who is with MoW all the time, ‘doesn’t know herself ’, according to Eleanor, with all the fantastic equipment.
Tommy said that the youngsters have contributed little touches of their own. ‘For Easter they made gift cards,’ he said. ‘ They put a little bunch of flowers together and an Easter egg. Some of the responses they got back were absolutely brilliant,’ he said. ‘Some lovely sentiments came back to the kids from the older people.’
Some of the younger volunteers, as well as doing labels,
IT’S AN EXTREMELY WELL DESIGNED FACILITY WITH ALL THE BEST OF TECHNOLOGY TO HELP THE VOLUNTEERS GET THE MEALS COOKED FOR MEALS ON WHEELS
are designing face masks and selling them to help raise money for Meals on Wheels.
Their creations are available on Instagram at 2die4masks. Distinct Distribution in Bray are supplying the masks at cost, with printroom.ie doing business cards and stickers, and Lloyds pharmacy Greystones donating some dye for free.
The Meals on Wheels operation is extremely well organised, with a busy kitchen preparing the meals, a team of volunteers doing labels, and another team of drivers set to deliver the food.
‘It goes very smoothly,’ said Eleanor. ‘It works like clockwork.’ She and Tommy said that the Order of Malta are also invaluable for the social night. They provide a mini bus service to ensure people can get there and back safely.
At this time, the drivers delivering meals are an important contact for people who are cocooning. They may have a quick greeting, relay a message back if a small job needs doing, or raise the alarm in the rare case where there is no answer at the door.
‘How long is a piece of string,’ said Tommy, on when it might be possible to return to full activities.
In the meantime, they would really like some younger members of the community to join the committee and help with Bray Old Folks Association. ‘It’s time for the next generation to move in,’ said Tommy. ‘It’s not that the workload is heavy but you need someone there at the steering wheel all the time.’ ++He said new people would be made very welcome indeed by those already on the team.
They are also looking for more volunteers to help out in the kitchen, particularly a pastry chef, four hours a week on a Saturday morning from 8.30 a.m. to 12.30 p.m.. The pastry chef would be responsible for producing 100 tasty desserts each week. Anyone who can help can email annemarieoleary.bofa@gmail.com. Bray Meals on Wheels delivers over 1,000 meals each month for a nominal charge of €3.50. Anyone requiring the service can call 01 2867835 on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 9 a.m.
Alternatively, call Eleanor Murphy on 086 4086698, or email annemarieoleary.bofa@gmail.com.