Senior Sector Spotlight: Edmonton Meals on Wheels

Written by: Breanne Harrison

Imagine: An Edmonton Meals on Wheels (EMOW) volunteer rings the doorbell of a quaint little home, the lawn freshly cut and the flowers freshly watered. When the door opens, an older woman expresses her gratitude as she accepts the delivery bag from the volunteer. They converse until the clock strikes noon, and the woman moves to the kitchen. She pulls a plate of chilled pork from the bag, her fingers tracing the outline of a sauce which has been hardened by the cold. After placing it in the oven, she inhales through her nose. The air has a warm, woody aroma, with a tinge of sweetness biting at the nostrils. 

It is the smell of pork loin with apple and sage gravy, one of the items on the ever-changing Daily Fresh Meal Delivery menu. Chandon Griffin, the Communications and Funding Coordinator at EMOW, tells us about this, our mouths watering as she describes both the food and how it is prepared. “Our chef is a Red Seal Chef, and he makes 95% of everything from scratch,” Griffin explains. “We really believe in making fresh, healthy food affordable. Everyone should be fed, regardless of their situation.” 

Edmonton Meals on Wheels has been serving the community since its inception in 1969. There was a need for their services, as many individuals began struggling with meal preparation as they aged. “It can be so challenging for people with dexterity issues to even open a can,” Griffin says. It was for this reason that the community banded together to deliver fresh, thoughtfully prepared meals to anybody in need, and EMOW has operated its own food production and distribution center since 1988. “We are getting rid of barriers that people may face to accessing nutritious food,” Griffin explains. Diverging away from institutional meals, EMOW instead brings life and flavour by putting creative twists on classic recipes. 

Initially run strictly by volunteers, EMOW still relies heavily on volunteer workers because they make the organization's mission possible. EMOW’s impact goes beyond just physical food. They also nourish mental and social wellness. “Nutrition and connection go hand in hand for mental health,” Griffin says. “Seniors can be very isolated, and social isolation can be just as detrimental as malnourishment.” According to Griffin, some of their clients may not interact with anybody aside from the volunteer drivers, and those moments of connection, even if brief, can make a significant difference in their lives.  

EMOW further nourishes the mental wellbeing of their clients by fostering connections through their Friendly Caller Program, in which a volunteer will reach out to call people who simply need someone to chat with. Whether it is updating the volunteer about their day or talking about how they are feeling, a senior who uses this program stays connected to the community. 

The desire to foster authentic connection and communication was a significant deciding factor in Griffin’s search for jobs. “I just feel compelled to help people,” she explains. “I love being involved in meeting the people that we serve, and I am so grateful that I can feel and see that we are making a tangible difference in peoples’ lives.” Not only does she create visuals that advocate for change, but sometimes she witnesses the impacts of EMOW firsthand. On a typical day, Griffin sits in the office, clicking at her mouse on a design program or typing up emails. However, an occasional shortage of volunteer drivers leads to her being assigned to a delivery route of around fifteen stops. 

One summer afternoon, a new address was added to Griffin’s delivery route. After travelling to the client’s house and visiting with them, she realized that it was the client’s first week with Edmonton Meals on Wheels. This person was a part of the Going Home program, in which clients receive two weeks' worth of free meals following a hospital stay, allowing them to focus on recovering as opposed to meal preparation. As the two chatted more, Griffin discovered that it was the person's birthday. “They did not have anyone to celebrate with. There were no family members or friends with them,” Griffin recounts. “It really meant a lot to them to meet with somebody on their birthday.” Had she stayed in her office that day, Griffin would not have been able to gift that client a friendly visit. 

Stories like these illustrate just how impactful EMOW is, and how important they are to the community. They can bring life to your meals, and meals to your life, with an additional helping of connection to go along with it. 

To find out more about Edmonton Meals on Wheels, including how to sign up for their meal delivery services and/or how to get involved, visit one of the following websites, or give them a call! 

Website: www.emow.ca  

Phone: (780) 429-2020 

Facebook: www.facebook.com/edmontonmealsonwheels  

Instagram: @yegmealsonwheels 

 

Fresh, connected, and delivered!