Community support counts more than ever when times are tough.
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Meals on Wheels slogan More than just a meal, has never been so true and in these uncertain times Highlanders have rallied behind the charity.
With the COVID outbreak, Meals on Wheels Southern Highlands manager Debbie Smith said they had to advise their volunteers over 70 to stay home.
This was about 80 per cent of their volunteers and with an increase in the demand for individual meals, it could have meant tough times.
"If none of us deliver, some people would be stuck in their homes and not eating," Ms Smith said.
But community members stepped up and a flux of younger volunteers helped fill the gap.
Ms Smith said uni students, gap year students and people who had been stood down from their jobs, had all become Meals on Wheels volunteers.
"That's been really encouraging to see people that might not usually have had time are recognising it's an area that needs [volunteers]."
Helen Harvie, who volunteers in the kitchen, is one of those who was stood down from her work and said rather than sitting at home "twiddling my thumbs", she decided to support the community through volunteer work.
And with some volunteers now starting to return to work, Ms Smith said they hoped more volunteers would join.
"There's lots of different ways volunteers can get involved- driving, in the kitchen, assisting with admin or social media. We're always looking to utilise people's skills," she said.
Meals on Wheels have implemented plenty of COVID safe practices to keep both the volunteers and clients safe.
Volunteer Paul Clark said kitchen staff had been put on different rosters to limit the number of people, and volunteer's hours were adjusted to look after their wellbeing.
Ms Smith said they now had a drive through pick up system for volunteers doing deliveries to limit contact which was something they would look at continuing.
She said they had a strict sanitising regime and temperature checks with drivers required to wear gloves for deliveries.
Meals on Wheels has also been doing contactless drop offs where possible.
But not only is the delivery of nutritious meals important, Ms Smith said for many people the social interaction was just as crucial.
She said for many family members who lived away from the Highlands and were reluctant to travel, it gave them "peace of mind" to know someone was checking in with their loved ones.
And during the pandemic, Ms Smith said they had been able to offer further assistance to their clients as a result of the generosity of the community.
She said several stores including ALDI had donated food products which they were able to use in the kitchen and distribute as had Mittagong RSL, The Outdoor Education Group and The Hermitage.
"It's really encouraging to us, great food is not being wasted and you're able to help a local charity."
Ms Smith said many of the local pharmacies including Moss Vale Community Pharmacy and Capital Chemist Bowral, had also been a great support in helping source hand sanitiser.
"We would have been stuck without it. It's really nice to have that support, it makes you feel like you're a part of the community."
Meals on Wheels also offered clients a shopping service during the lockdown and with many items hard to get, Ms Smith said they were grateful that Woolworths donated toilet rolls to Meals on Wheels across the state.
While Meals on Wheels is funded for people over 65, Ms Smith said they were able to cater to anyone.
"There's a variety of meals [so] they can pick and choose what they get. Because we have the production kitchen here, we're able to tailor what they get, so they're not getting things they don't like."
Visit https://www.mealssouthernhighlands.org.au/ to view the menu or to get in touch about becoming a volunteer.
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