Meals on Wheels worries low volunteer numbers will impact meal deliveries

WATCH: Meals on Wheels has been in Halifax for more than 45 years. But its volunteer base has fallen in recent years. And as Julia Wong reports, that may impact its ability to deliver.

HALIFAX – Meals on Wheels says it needs more volunteers to maintain its meal delivery service to seniors in Halifax.

President Hilda Taylor said there are 98 clients in the Halifax area and approximately 62 volunteers right now. The organization provides meals to people at home who may be unable to prepare or purchase their own meals.

Taylor said the number of volunteers hit a high of 100 a few years ago but has since fallen. She said the majority of volunteers are seniors and many go on vacation during the winter and summer months. She also said many are also just getting older.

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“These people are now realizing that turning out in February to deliver meals isn’t as much fun as it used to be,” she said.

She said fewer volunteers makes it difficult to maintain the service.

“It’s extremely stressful for us. We commit ourselves to delivering meals and we have to find people every day to go out. It’s difficult if we don’t have enough [volunteers]. It will impact our services if our numbers keep dropping,” she said.

Tweet This Click to share quote on Twitter: "It's extremely stressful for us. We commit ourselves to delivering meals and we have to find people every day to go out. It's difficult if we don't have enough [volunteers]. It will impact our services if our numbers keep dropping," she said.

If the volunteer-run organization isn’t able to attract more volunteers, Taylor said it will be unable to reach current clients and Meals on Wheels may not be able to take on more clients.

Volunteer Laura Ellis has been delivering meals to seniors since 2008. She said she can see how the service makes a difference.

“They depend on this food. Some of these people can’t get out to go to get groceries. This food may be the only thing they have that comes in,” she said.

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Ellis said the organization is about more than just meal delivery, it provides social interaction for many seniors.

“Some people like to talk and it’s hard to leave them. Sometimes we’re the only people they get to see,” she said.

Tweet This Click to share quote on Twitter: "Some people like to talk and it's hard to leave them. Sometimes we're the only people they get to see," she said.

On Tuesday, Ellis delivered meals to seniors in the South End, including Peter Poapst.

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The 94-year-old has been receiving meals from the organization for several years. He stopped cooking in recent years after concerns over his safety.

He said he does not travel much out of his apartment and sees the meals as a lifesaver.

“A lot of us can’t get out. I don’t get out. I don’t get out to travel around the city,” he said.

Tweet This Click to share quote on Twitter: "A lot of us can't get out. I don't get out. I don't get out to travel around the city," he said.

For Kevin Power, 93, the delivery service means he is guaranteed a meal.

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“I live alone,” he said.

“It just makes life a lot easier for me. Otherwise, what am I going to have for dinner tonight? As the years have gone by, they’ve become more and more valuable to me.”

Tweet This Click to share quote on Twitter: "It just makes life a lot easier for me. Otherwise, what am I going to have for dinner tonight? As the years have gone by, they've become more and more valuable to me."

Meals on Wheels is holding an event Wednesday in the hope of attracting more volunteers. The organization is setting a goal to have 100 volunteers by the end of the year.

Wednesday’s event takes place at 5 p.m. at the Lord Nelson Hotel.