Long-time Meals on Wheels volunteer driver and fundraiser Derek Haines is asking people to help kit out the charity’s new headquarters and says that offers of equipment are just as welcome as financial donations.
Meals on Wheels Cayman Islands broke ground on the site of its new George Town headquarters in June last year and building work has been progressing well so far, with the roof recently installed and supporters pitching in to lend a hand with tiling.
Meals on Wheels provides free, hot, nutritious meals to more than 350 seniors, as well as to homebound and disabled people, across Grand Cayman every day, totalling almost 88,000 meals per year.
Funds needed to complete the job
To complete the construction and the fit-out of the building’s interior, another $400,000-$500,000 is required. One item in particular needed for the inside of the property is a new walk-in fridge.
“We really need people to help us finish the kitchen,” said Haines. “We are an aging society and we’ve got a lot of people who rely on that daily meal coming from Meals on Wheels.”
“Being able to donate equipment is just as important as making a financial donation,” he added, “and usually saves people a little bit of money by doing that.”
A former police chief superintendent, Haines, 77, is currently planning his latest fundraising adventure of trekking 250 miles in Italy between Tuscany and Rome to raise vital funds for the project.
The self-funded 28-day trek, which Haines is undertaking with friend and former rugby mate Greg Swart, takes in part of the epic trail walked by Hannibal and his elephants in 218 BC and includes total ascents of 23,478 feet.
Last year, Haines completed the 175-mile Robert Louis Stevenson Trail in France with his nephew Tom Carlin, raising more than $800,000 towards the new building.
Over the years, the intrepid adventurer has raised several million dollars for Meals on Wheels and other charitable causes.
Haines says that the challenge for Meals on Wheels, like with many other charities in Cayman, is to that there a “small pond to fish in” when it comes to fundraising, but notes that he has been very fortunate to have received so much support with his fundraising efforts, including substantial donations from Rotary Central and the Rotary Club of Grand Cayman.
Haines sets off on his Italian trek on 15 April and hopes that the funds raised will allow the building to be finished sometime this year.
Those 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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