Meals on Wheels Cayman Islands has broken ground on the site of its future headquarters at 14 Durham Drive in George Town.
The event, held 6 June, “marked a historic moment in the organization’s 28-year journey of delivering nourishment, connection, and compassion to Cayman’s most vulnerable seniors”, a Meals of Wheels press release said.
Among those attending the ceremony were board directors, volunteers, corporate sponsors and community partners, with the morning also featuring the symbolic planting of a tree by 2025 Miss Earth Cayman Islands, Latecia Bush.
The planting symbolised “growth, resilience, and Meals on Wheels’ deepening roots in the community”, the non-profit said in the press release.
Minister for Social Development Isaac Rankine, in remarks at the ceremony, praised Meals on Wheels and stressed the importance of sustainable infrastructure for charities.
“Meals on Wheels represents the heart of our community. Their work goes far beyond food delivery – it’s about care, connection, and dignity. This new facility will help ensure that our seniors continue to receive the support they deserve, with even greater reach and efficiency,” he said in the press release.
Jennifer West, Meals on Wheels CEO, expressed thanks for the support, saying, “This groundbreaking marks the beginning of a new chapter, one filled with purpose, promise, and people coming together to serve our community.
“For 28 years, Meals on Wheels has been a vital source of nourishment and connection for our seniors. We’ve operated from borrowed spaces, humble offices, and overflowing kitchens – always with love, but not always with room to grow.”
In 2024, Meals on Wheels delivered more than 85,000 hot meals across Grand Cayman, along with countless weekly supplemental groceries, hurricane emergency kits, wellness checks and vital human interaction, the press release said.
Robert Imparato, the organisation’s board chairman, said at the ceremony, “It has been a long time coming, but we will finally have a home of our own. It requires a village to feed a senior, and we are beyond grateful to everyone who has made this day possible, including our generous land donor and those individuals and companies who have made monetary and in-kind donations toward this project; the Rotary Club of Grand Cayman and Rotarian Derek Haines, our longest-serving volunteer, for their tireless fundraising efforts; our superstar staff headed by Jennifer West, and our board of directors for ensuring that our organization is the best it can be; and lastly, our volunteers who give their personal time and drive their own vehicles to deliver meals, smiles and dignity to our seniors every weekday.”
The event concluded with a golden shovel ceremony.
Anyone interested in supporting the building campaign, sponsoring a meal or volunteering should visit the Meals on Wheels website, email [email protected] or call 546-8886.
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