Food on doorsteps
Pilot project brings fresh produce, groceries to seniors
For another four weeks, seniors in Cape Breton can get fresh, locally sourced produce, meat and baked goods delivered right to their door — thanks to a pilot program being run through meals on wheels.
The age-friendly food box program kicked off on Sept. 7. Offered to the 70 people currently using meals on wheels, so far only seven have accessed the service.
The program aims to bring fresh, healthy food to people who have trouble getting to grocery stores. It is also a good research tool for meals on wheels staff.
“It’s about collecting data and that’s what’s been interesting about the low number of participants,” explained Claire Turpin, a registered nutritionist and program manager of meals on wheels.
“We have to collect the data to see if there’s a need. But when you don’t have people participating, it looks like there isn’t a need, when really I think there’s other factors to be consider.”
Turpin thinks one of the biggest factors is weather.
“Seniors have more access to fresh food in the summertime. Families have gardens. (The seniors) might have their own garden they tend to. And seniors don’t mind going to the grocery store in the summer. They want to go out and do things,” Turpin said.
“The winter time might be when something like this is more effective.”
However, winter would pose different challenges since they wouldn’t be able to use local farms to get produce.
The idea for the program partly came from clients of the meals on wheels program, who told volunteers and staff they would like a service like this.
“We also know some of our clients only get one meal a week, some only get three meals a week and some are getting five meals a week. So we know the clients that are getting only one meal a week must be cooking for themselves,” explained Kathleen Whelan, program co-ordinator for meals on wheels.
“None of them get meals on the weekend so they do need some groceries to get them through those days.”
The pilot program is done in partnership with the Ecology Action Centre and Pan Cape Breton Food Hub, who deal directly with the producers providing fresh meat, produce and baked goods.
It is free to sign up. Clients pay for the food they order, which can be a full grocery list or only a few items. There is a subsidy in place so people using the service get $5 off each order.
“We kind of see the need in our community for these nutrition interventions. So people have better health and can age in place and stay in their homes,” explained Turpin.
Food boxes are delivered on Thursdays and clients order for the next week at that time. Orders can be called in and the menu is very Cape Breton centric.
“We try to make everything very traditional. You see a lot of boiled cabbage and stew meats and fresh fish and things that we felt were very appealing to seniors (in the area.) We carefully crafted this list,” Turpin said.
Boiled dinner packages, eggs, jam, stew meat, chicken and scones are only a few of the items available.
Seniors can still register for the program. It is also available to people with disabilities, chronic or serious illnesses or recovering from surgeries or injuries, as long as their ailment makes it difficult for them to go to a grocery store.
“If you want four weeks of fresh groceries delivered to your door, I advise you to sign up,” Whelan said.
Turpin added, “It’s not too late, that’s for sure. Just get in touch with us.”
To find out more about the age-friendly food box or to sign up call meals on wheels at 902-562-1245.