Councillor David Elkin, Lead Member for Children's and Adults ‘Services with some of the youngsters at Netherfield Primary School, in front of a Meals on Wheels delivery van.
Each year, over 19 million community meals are delivered to the elderly and vulnerable living in their own homes, with more than 550 delivered every day in East Sussex.
This plays an important part in helping individuals to keep their independence and remain in the comfort and familiarity of their own home. For the relatives, it offers peace of mind that their loved ones regularly get nutritious meals and contact with a delivery driver who will look out for an individual's safety and overall wellbeing
Two senior County Councillors and Members of Parliament joined in with the various events which were being organised around the County by the Council Catering Team and our ‘Meals on Wheels' contractors, Apetito.
This included visiting schools for a food tasting, delivering meals and flowers to some elderly residents and lunch for 35 people at the seniors' Citizens Club in, Cornfield Road, Eastbourne.
County Councillors David Elkin and Bill Bentley went to primary schools in East Sussex to talk to the children all about nutritious food and ‘Meals on Wheels' and join in some food tastings!
Cllr Bill Bentley, was at Groveland's Primary School in Hailsham, where the 9 and 10-year-olds also took part in a poster competition, keeping to the wellbeing theme, producing colourful creations on ‘How to Keep Warm in Winter'.
Cllr Bentley, the Lead Member for Adult Social Care, said:
“It was wonderful to visit the school and I would like to thank the staff and children for their warm welcome. The children certainly seemed interested, particularly with the food tasting! And of course their colourful posters were a joy to see”.
“It is important that young people understand about good nutrition and healthy living and also learn about how older and vulnerable people are able to get an essential service like Meals on Wheels every single day”.
Matt Andrews, the class teacher at Grovelands, added:
“The children thoroughly enjoyed learning about Meals on Wheels and the community benefits of this service. The food tasting was a big hit, with the chicken curry and apple pie proving to be particular favourites!”
Cllr Elkin, the Lead Member for Children's and Adults' Services, went to Netherfield Primary School, near Battle. The children had an opportunity to look at one of the delivery vans and see how the meals are kept warm on their journey around the County, as well as taste the food.
Councillor Elkin said:
“The children asked lots of questions and it was a great opportunity to speak to them about Meals on Wheels. I would like to thank the school, teachers and pupils as it helps to spread the message about healthy food and how important it is to look after the vulnerable and elderly in our community. Many people look forward to their lunchtime hot meal, delivered straight to their front-door. Not only does it help to keep them healthy, it is also for many, a social lifeline, where they can have a chat with someone during the day”.
To find out more see our advice about how to get meals at home.
Further information
National Community Meals Wheels Week is an annual event organised by The National Association of Care Catering (NACC). It aims to draw public and government attention to the essential role that this service has in the community. This year it was held between 1 to 7 October.
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