Proserpine Meals on Wheels calls for more volunteers

They cook and deliver meals to those who need them most — but they’ve been getting by with 14 less people than what they need.

New Meals on Wheels Proserpine volunteer Jane Welbourne with long standing volunteer Coleen Hill. Photo: Contributed

A local organisation is calling for more volunteers as they struggle to meet demand from the community.

Proserpine Meals on Wheels have been working with well under the amount of volunteers needed to continue offering their services with some volunteers forced to work multiple days a week to keep things up and running.

Proserpine Meals on Wheels Coordinator, Helen Maynard-Turner, said having more volunteers would lighten the load and allow them to have a backup in case their scheduled volunteers weren’t able to work.

“It’s hard for the volunteers because the group of lovelies that I’ve got, they’ve gone above and beyond to keep us going,” she said.

She said at their lowest, during Covid, they were down to just 16 volunteers, well below the 30 volunteers that would put them in a comfortable position.

“That was really pushing the friendship, these lovely people giving up their good time to come and help but nobody ever complained, they just put their hand up and said, we’ll be in to help,” she said.

A visit from Amanda Camm highlighting how low they were on volunteers did bring some new volunteer, but more help is needed.

There are positions available in the kitchen and as delivery drivers depending on skills and interest, with training provided by Meals on Wheels.

Ms Maynard-Turner said it wasn’t just about driving and preparing food, interacting with clients was just as important.

“They’ve got to have the right sort of personality too and the feel for the job,” she said.

“You are looking after people that are in a vulnerable state, some are just wanting to have a chat, you’ve got to have that rapport with the clients.”

She said any volunteers would have to be team players who enjoyed working with other people.

People who had their heart and soul in the right place got a lot out of giving back to the community she said but they also had the chance to make lifelong friends and learn new skills.

People interested in getting involved can call the kitchen on 07 4945 1733 to have a chat.