Free lunch

Meals on Wheels depends entirely on donations to operate, despite evidence that the service reduces government spending by reducing hospitalisation and even the need for nursing homes. Apart from South Africa, there are Meals on Wheels programmes in the US, the UK, Australia, Canada and Ireland. To qualify for the service, potential recipients are first screened, with lack of money, age and/or inability to shop and cook for themselves being the primary requirements. The service is entirely free of charge, though some recipients, if they can afford it, give a donation of about R60 a month. Considering the South African economy, it is no surprise that Meals on Wheels’ survival is constantly in the balance here, but its operation is precarious even in the US. In March last year Donald Trump’s proposed budget included cuts to grants that go towards the programme.