Meals on Wheels taking car of seniors at home

Photo by Tim Kalinowski- Bill McLeod (seated) and his son, Bob are grateful to Meals on Wheels and volunteers like Sharon Kirvan (right) who bring good nutrition and a caring presence to Bill's home every day.

By Tim Kalinowski
Just as the local Seniors’ Center in Redcliff helps active seniors find friends and keep busy out into the community, Meal on Wheels helps bring the community to seniors who can no longer get out on their own.
Ninety-four year-old Bill McLeod has been receiving Meals on Wheels for the past six years. Meals on Wheels has always ensured he gets a healthy and tasty meal every day, but it has become even more important since he broke both his hips, and become home-bound, as an increasingly important source of daily social contact. Cocoa Bean Cafe takes care of the first part of that equation, (i.e. tasty, varied and nutritious daily meals). It is the Meals on Wheels’ volunteer delivery drivers like Sharon Kirvan who take care of the second half.
“The drivers get to know the clients, and then we also get to know the families,” says Kirvan. “I know Bill from Meals on Wheels, but he also used come to my church once and awhile. Rose, another of our drivers, knows Bill from when he was active in the Legion… It is kind of nice as a Meals on Wheels driver in town that we’re not strangers. We are people who have often known our clients for many years before we ever drove for Meals on Wheels.”
Bob McLeod, Bill’s son, completely agrees.
“I think especially with Redcliff it does have that small town feel,” says Bob. “I think the friendliness, the caring of people, the place where everybody knows you and they know your name… It the friendliness and that caring that make it so wonderful for the elderly people here. I feel the whole community is watching out for him.”
For Bill himself the service he gets from Meals and Wheels all boils down to one thing.
“They’re good,” he states simply. “It’s nice to get a hot meal every day. The food is a good variety. And I like that the people come every day. It makes me feel like I am well cared for in the community.”
For more information on Meals on Wheels program in Redcliff contact Cindy Murray at Redcliff Family and Community Support Services at 403-548-3618.