A ‘Meals on Wheels’ program could soon be up and rolling in Port Alice.
A letter from Valerie Eyford of the Port Alice Health Forum Society was a topic of discussion at the Village’s special council meeting Dec. 7.
“The Port Alice Health Forum Society is applying for an Island Health Community Wellness Grant to promote health in Port Alice,” wrote Eyford.
“The criteria we would like to address in this application is ‘frail seniors’. Our program model would promote healthy aging by providing access to balanced nutrition. This model would see a food service in place where meals would be prepared (by volunteers), frozen and delivered to seniors who would otherwise not have a balanced meal each day. Seniors would then thaw and microwave or otherwise heat this meal in their home.”
Eyford added that “We would like to request that the Village of Port Alice partner with us in this venture. Your involvement would be to supply the use of the Home Ec. Room in the Sea Vac Centre. We would require access to this room twice a week on Monday and Tuesdays. We would be utilizing the stoves for preparation of meals. Cupboards would be required to keep supplies, we would like to lock these cupboards with a hasp and padlock. We would also like to utilize the existing refrigerators and we would be purchasing a freezer to store completed meals and supplies.”
The society has already spoken with Eric Bergsman, an Environmental Health Officer regarding their compliance with the Public Health Act, Food Premise Regulations. “The item he was concerned with is having a three compartment sink for dishwashing,” wrote Eyford, adding that in the event “our application is successful, we would be able to cover the costs for the village to install a three compartment sink. It is hoped that providing this service would allow seniors to stay well and in their own homes.”
Sandra Morgan, co-chairperson of the Port Alice Health Forum Society stated that it’s “more like a meals on wheels type of thing that will be implemented in the community.”
"It has to go to School District 85 (SD85). We don't own the building," said Mayor Jan Allen. "We can't do any work to it."
"Are they looking for a letter of support?" asked Councillor Dave Stewart.
"They're looking for approval. I think it's a win/win, we just have some hoops to jump through before we can allow them to do it, because it's not ours," said Allen.
The society’s application needed to be sent in by Dec. 14.
“I think it’s a great idea,” said Mayor Jan Allen. The request for support was approved unanimously pending discussions with SD85.