Friends bid to revive meals on wheels

Date published: 08 February 2012

Two friends have set about replacing Rochdale’s Meals on Wheels service.

Diane Chadwick and Marilyn Jones, both 53, are looking for support to deliver a similar service to the one axed by the Council.

Meals on Wheels saw hot meals delivered everyday to elderly and vulnerable people but has been replaced with frozen meals being taken to homes once or twice a fortnight.

Ms Chadwick said: “My dad had Alzheimer’s and I used Meals on Wheels for him. It was a really good service and it wasn’t just about the food. The people who visited would have a word with him and it was a bit of contact with the outside world for him. If they felt he wasn’t well they would ring me. It was a sort of no news is good news service.

“When I saw it had closed I couldn’t believe it.”

Mrs Chadwick said that whilst she isn’t saying that people aren’t satisfied with the frozen meals, that contact has gone and some people may not be able to heat up the meals themselves.

She added: “We just thought while the people from WRVS are all suddenly at a loose end we would strike whilst the iron is hot and see if they are prepared to support us on a voluntary basis rather than through the council.

“So many things are unknown at the moment but we have to start somewhere and we are putting out feelers in the hope to get something off the ground.”

The friends already run a luncheon club at Thrum Hall Methodist Church and want to gauge opinion of their idea and see if anybody would be willing to help them.

They are looking for people to help with both the cooking of the meals and the delivery. They also need vehicles to deliver the meals and a place to cook them.

To find out more or offer your help email dianeandmarilyn@gmail.com or write to: Thrum Hall Methodist Church, Thrum Hall Lane, Rochdale, OL12 6NL