Let’s make a meal out of helping others
Express readers are being urged to nominate an older friend who would benefit from a tasty home cooked meal.
Wonder fu l organisation Meal Makers has an army of talented volunteers ready to cook up a storm for those aged 55 and over who need help in preparing their dinner.
The registered charity, which is part of Food Train, is asking folk to nominate an elderly pal for the project which provides a homemade dinner and some company, once a week.
The befriending service has taken Renfrewshire by storm, with 56 cooks signed up in the area who are ready to “Buddie up” with their clients and rustle up their favourite foods.
Charity development officer Alister Reid said: “It is a great idea which works by pairing our volunteer cooks with their clients whom they visit with the meals.
“N o rma l l y our clients are handed us on a referral basis by authorities such as hospitals and social work department s, neighbours, friends and family members.
“But we are specifically looking for diners to register for the service as we have cooks in the Renfrewshire area who are ready to help.
“Once we receive the recommendation we follow up with one of cooks based near to the client to check their dietary needs and habits.
“The service works by one of our cooks arranging a date and time with the client to arrange the weekly meal share.
“Then they would plate up an extra portion of the meal they’re making that night and deliver it to the diner to share.”
Meal Makers has its team of cooks looking for diners acros s Renfrewshire, and specifically wants to hear from punters in the Paisley PA1/ 2, PA3 Paisley/ Linwood, PA4 Renfrew/Inchinnan, PA6 Houston, PA7 Bishopton and PA10 Johnstone areas.
The service costs only £5 per year to register for and offers each member an unlimited amount of meal shares.
Alister added: “We operate a lower age limit by inviting those aged 55 and over to register for the service.
“We are finding people in that age group can sometimes find it harder to get out and about.
“Meal Makers is a service of Food Train, a registered charity in Scotland that supports older people to live independently in their homes.”
To sign up to Meal Makers as a Diner visit www. mealmakers. org. uk or call 0800 783 7770
If you want to volunteer as a shopper or delivery driver at Food Train Renfrewshire call 0141 887 2557.
It is a great idea which works by pairing our volunteer cooks with their clients