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It’s time to March for Meals !

Food insecurity and isolation are two major problems facing seniors in our community. With the cost of food and transportation, more and more seniors are finding it harder to age at home. Can you help them?

Your donation will help provide isolated and vulnerable seniors across Pembroke-Renfrew County access to a nutritious meal delivered to their door. But Meal Delivery is more than just ensuring nutrition; it’s also about making sure someone is doing okay.

Your donation helps change this. You’ll be helping put a meal on a table and smile on a face.

A $20 donation, means three meals and three visits. A $100 donation means fifteen times, the gift of nutrition and friendship is coming into someone’s life thanks to you.

Our seniors have looked after us their whole lives. It’s time for us to look after them.

Please give today.

Imagine that you cook for yourself every single day. For years, you make breakfast, lunch and dinner daily. Then, one day, you find that you no longer have the physical energy to cook so often, and you’re forced to find another way to get food. Or maybe someone cooked for you, someone you cared about, and when they pass you don’t know what to do. This is a reality for a lot of seniors, who need consistent access not only to nutritious ingredients, but feasible ways to prepare them.

Seniors are particularly vulnerable to the plight of food insecurity. In a world with ever-rising food prices, seniors also have to contend with other barriers, such as an inability to stand over a stove for extended periods of time or a lack of transportation to stock up on groceries. Food insecurity isn’t just about food prices, there’s the complicated factor of accessibility, especially for vulnerable communities.

In Pembroke-Renfrew County, where many seniors experience food insecurity, Carefor’s frozen meal delivery service has been a valuable resource. For over two decades, Carefor has been a pillar of support for vulnerable communities, particularly seniors and individuals with disabilities facing isolation and limited access to fresh food.

By sourcing from local provider Griffith Farms and lovingly crafting meals before flash-freezing them, Carefor’s frozen food delivery ensures both convenience and nutritional quality. The service proves beneficial, especially in rural areas where traditional grocery shopping is often impractical due to transportation challenges.

“We’re always looking to fill a gap in the community,” says Janna Wood, coordinator of the delivery program. For her, the importance lies in giving seniors an easy option for nutritional meals, something that can be accessed with little physical or mental effort. This allows seniors and adults with disabilities to remain independent for as long as possible, helping them stay in their homes and avoid long-term care or hospital stays. Ultimately, it gives people choices.

However, the stark reality of escalating food prices underscores a harsh truth: while Carefor’s service addresses immediate hunger, its cost may create barriers for those most in need. Ultimately, while it provides a vital buffer against food insecurity, long-term solutions demand systemic changes, such as governmental subsidies and community-driven initiatives.

Essentially, Carefor’s frozen meal delivery service represents resilience in the face of adversity, offering sustenance and dignity to those grappling with food insecurity. It’s a testament to compassion and community solidarity, striving to bridge gaps and nourish spirits in uncertain times. If you’re in Pembroke-Renfrew County, this might be a helpful option for you.

To learn more about Carefor’s frozen meal program and to place an order, visit the Carefor website.

It’s time to March for Meals !

Food insecurity and isolation are two major problems facing seniors in our community. With the cost of food and transportation, more and more seniors are finding it harder to age at home. Can you help them?

Your donation will help provide isolated and vulnerable seniors across your community access to a nutritious meal delivered to their door. But Meal Delivery is more than just ensuring nutrition; it’s also about making sure someone is doing okay.

Your donation helps change this. You’ll be helping put a meal on a table and smile on a face.

Our seniors have looked after us their whole lives. It’s time for us to look after them.

March for Meals: Helping Corrie Stay Healthy and Connected

Meal delivery program

Volunteer Marilyn with Corrie and Fundraising Manager, Rhonda Simpson

The Meal Delivery Program at the Lan‑Char Support Centre in Lancaster begins each day with something simple but powerful: neighbours looking out for one another. With up to one-third of seniors living alone, a warm meal delivered with a friendly smile can mean the difference between isolation and connection. For many seniors, these meals are not only nourishment, but are also a reminder that someone cares.

Nancy Contant has seen this impact firsthand. After more than 25 years volunteering with Carefor, first through footcare and now through meal delivery, she knows how meaningful a brief visit can be. Living in Lancaster and caring full‑time for her 100‑year‑old mother, Nancy says the program enriches her life as much as it does the clients’. “Meeting all the clients and making a difference in their lives” is what keeps her going, she explains. It’s also how she met Marilyn, who has become one of her closest friends. Volunteering, she adds, gives her a chance to recharge and is “a social outing to help others” that doubles as caregiver support for herself.

Marilyn Lebrun joined the program two years ago, shortly after retiring and welcoming a new granddaughter. Encouraged by Nancy, she quickly discovered how fulfilling the work could be. “A lot of people know me in the community, so it’s a great social outing,” she says. “It feels good to give back.” Like Nancy, she treasures the friendships she’s formed along the way.

One of the people they visit regularly is Corrie Flipsen. Corrie lives alone, though she has a large and loving extended family. The Meal Delivery Program allows her to maintain her independence without relying on them for daily help. She loves the hot meals, but even more, she loves the visits. “Meeting new people and socializing with the volunteers gives me something to look forward to,” she says.

These stories reflect the heart of Carefor’s five Senior Support Centres in Alexandria, Lancaster, Ingleside, Winchester, and Finch. Each centre provides essential services that help seniors age safely at home, stay socially connected, and feel supported in their community. As Lan‑Char Support Centre supervisor Tina Castonguay puts it:
“Our meal delivery program means that many seniors can stay at home, where they want to and for some, where they need to due to the cost of retirement homes. We’re proud to help our seniors live with independence.”

During March for Meals, we are looking for donations to support our meal delivery programs as well as people who want to volunteer. Visit our website to find out more information about

Donate

Volunteer

 

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