Meals on Wheels is delivering 330 meals daily to Cayman’s infirm, housebound, disabled, elderly and other vulnerable residents during the COVID-19 crisis, with the help of volunteers and local catering company Mise en Place.
The charity last year was providing about 245 meals a day across the districts of Grand Cayman.
Since August last year, Mise en Place has been donating more than 100 hot, nutritious meals and soups each week to people in West Bay and George Town through the Meals on Wheels programme, according to a press release.
For Mise en Place managing director Sean Collins, the partnership with Meals on Wheels is the company’s way of giving back to the community. “This is a special partnership for us; we are passionate about the food we create and are pleased to support a programme that feeds, benefits and cares for the most vulnerable in the community,” he said.
As well as providing food, Mise en Place has set up a meal-collection station and storage areas, and has now donated new delivery bags.
“The bags being used were in poor condition so we decided to lead the way in getting new bags for MOW and hope that other companies will follow,” Collins said.
Jennifer West, Meals on Wheels general manager, said, “In recent weeks, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Mise en Place has gone above and beyond even more in their partnership. They have provided a fridge for the volunteer collection areas so that cold water and drinks can be made available for them, they installed a handwashing station for volunteers to ensure that hands could be cleaned before delivering meals, and their own kitchen and handling procedures increased because they understand the vulnerability of our clients and have made extreme changes to safeguard them.
“Every day, the amazing staff of Mise en Place carefully prepare and pack hot meals and soups for 14 different delivery routes into thermal bags.”
Meals on Wheels, while continuing to provide meals, has decreased the number of volunteers and visits to each house, in a bid to reduce contact with Cayman’s vulnerable population who may be more badly affected by COVID-19.
To help out, Mise en Place’s sister company, Boxed, helped to make sure Meals on Wheels clients would have access to meals in their homes on days when there was no delivery.
Collins explained in the press release, “Using equipment and technology (blast chilling process) that we have for our sister brand Boxed, meals are made specifically for Meals on Wheels.”
The charity said that equipment “is helping MOW continue ensuring that no senior goes hungry, while decreasing the number of visits to the home each week”.
Meals on Wheels pointed out that during the COVID-19 emergency, its referral list continues to grow.
Donations can be made online at www.pledgeasenior.com or by direct deposit to ‘Cayman Islands Meals on Wheels’ at Butterfield Bank account #1361609770021. The charity noted that no donation is too big or small, and for just $5, a senior can be provided with a hot meal and soup.
For more information or to find out how to get involved, visit www.mealsonwheels.ky, email [email protected] or call 769-1974.
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