ETC supports Meals on Wheels with a new car

There’s a shiny new set of wheels zooming around the Gold Coast and it’s helping disadvantaged members of the community to get healthy nutritious meals.

An $8,100 grant from the ETC Community Support Fund helped Nerang Meals on Wheels (MoW) to purchase a brand new air-conditioned and reliable mode of transportation.

MoW volunteer Jill Simpson said previous to this, volunteers were using their own personal vehicles to help service the local area.

“We are so appreciative of the support from ETC. Equipped with insulated cooler bags, the new vehicle will enable us to deliver fresh chilled meals, sandwiches and salads,” Ms Simpson said.

“Currently a large percentage of Gold Coast clients only have access to frozen meal choices, whereas now they will have much more variety. Also having a sign-written vehicle will provide mobile advertising to potential clients in need.”

Volunteer Driver, Ian Barrett said the new car was making the delivery service more efficient.

“We cover quite a large area – it’s going to make things a lot easier on us,” Mr Barrett said.

Meals on Wheels is an iconic Australian not-for-profit organisation that has been bringing local communities together for more than 60 years. As a single service, Nerang & Districts Meals on Wheels volunteers, deliver 30 000 meals a year across the Gold Coast region, to people with a wide variety of support needs.

“People accessing this service are often unable to physically cook meals themselves. People may be in their senior years, recovering after hospitalisation, a major illness or surgery, a person with a disability, a carer, or someone just needing assistance due to a special circumstance,” said Mr Barrett.

“A lot of the clients who we deliver to, may not actually see anyone all day. So they’re pleased to have a chat. They’re very appreciative of the meals and the social company.”

ETC Director Isabelle Borelli said it was a pleasure to be able to support Nerang Meals on Wheels.

“The ETC Community Support Fund is designed to help organisations reduce disadvantage, generate opportunity, increase support services and/or build capacity in the communities in which we operate,” Ms Borelli said.

“ETC is proud to be a not-for-profit company and we are confident the money we are donating will help make a more positive future for our community.

Applications for the next round of ETC’s Community Support Fund are currently open and close 15 April.