36 years’ service to Meals on Wheels
The Red Cross is hoping to rev up the number of Meals on Wheels drivers in Nelson.
Nicky Borras has been a volunteer for 36 years, one of three generations to get behind the wheel for a good cause, beginning with her mother who also delivered meals in Nelson.
‘‘She would talk about her round, and in those days it was quite busy because they used to have to collect the money [when you dropped off meals],’’ she said.
When Borras got her own permanent run, money-handling was gone and when her children were small they’d come with her during school holidays ‘‘to take in the puddings’’ which they thought was ‘‘wonderful’’. Her eldest daughter, now 46, became a Meals on Wheels driver herself, delivering hot dinners in Christchurch in the wake of the earthquake.
Borras said being a volunteer was ‘‘very rewarding’’.
‘‘You come home and you think ‘well, you know, I’ve achieved something, and I’ve helped someone, and I’ve actually had quite a lot of fun doing it’,’’ she said.
Borras delivers meals once a week on a Thursday, taking about an hour and a half to complete her round and has had interesting encounters over the years.
She said a man in Stoke was the most ‘‘belligerent’’ person she’s had to deliver to. After reading his death notice she discovered that along with being very grumpy, he was also the ‘‘Very Reverend’’.
‘‘I looked at it, and I goggled at it, I couldn’t believe it... I just laughed.’’ But she had built up good relationships with most recipients.
‘‘You take their mail in for them, you post mail for them... sometimes you’re the only one they might see in a day.’’
Borras said she often took her homemade soup so they had something extra for the weekend.
Red Cross community services manager Chris Stuart said they needed 20 more volunteers in Nelson. For more information contact Coordinator Kelly Atkinson on 03 546 5012.