News
16 June, 2022
High hopes for Meals on Wheels centre in Woodford
MOVES are underway for Meals on Wheels Moreton Bay Region (MOWMBR) to have a distribution centre in Woodford.
About 15 people attended a meeting at the Woodford Memorial Hall last Thursday to discuss the issue, with further discussions to occur this week and later this month.
The push to have a Meals on Wheels distribution centre in Woodford came about as increasing need was identified in the region, especially during the Covid pandemic, when many people could not leave their homes to access provisions.
MOWMBR resulted from the merging of Pine Rivers, Samford, Burpengary and Bribie Island Meals on Wheels services, with Caboolture used as a distribution centre.
The purpose of the merging was to make delivery of meals in the region more sustainable, and to support smaller volunteer-led services which would not have survived without support.
Currently, meals to Woodford and surrounds are distributed from Caboolture on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays.
MOWMBR general manager Wendy Smith said MOWMBR had between 900 and 1000 clients, including 14 in Woodford.
Wendy said that in Samford Valley, a 175km round trip was done for five days each week.
Wendy said the main issue in Woodford was that the distribution centre needed to store a vertical two door fridge.
One attendee from a local community group said at last Thursday’s meeting in Woodford that that particular community group could access a place that would store a fridge, but that the matter needed further discussion with the group.
Due to rules and regulations, Wendy said Meals on Wheels products could no longer be left in eskies at customer’s homes.
If a distribution centre could be found in Woodford, Wendy said this brought the question of whether the service in Woodford would be available for three or five days each week.
Wendy said she was open-minded as to when the new service could start in Woodford, and that it would depend on ensuing discussions and their outcomes.
“There’s no plan yet but hopefully by the start of July,” she said.
“The push for a distribution centre is the biggest thing.”
If anyone is interested as a client or volunteer, please do not hesitate to email Meals on Wheels Moreton Bay Region on info@mowmbr.org
