Mayor has been delivering the goods for five years

Delivering Meals on Wheels is nothing new for Prince Edward County Mayor Peter Mertens, shown here with Muriel Richardson and Muriel's regular 'delivery man' Ron Aruisais. They mayor and the Prince Edward County Community Care for Seniors Association participated in the International Mayors for Meals campaign to raise awareness about the program.

With a frozen fish florentine dinner in hand, Prince Edward County Mayor Peter Mertens continued his promotion of the importance of the Meals on Wheels program when he delivered the favourite meal to Muriel Richardson, 88, of Picton.
Mertens and the Prince Edward County Community Care for Seniors Association were participating in the 2011 International Mayors for Meals event. Mayors from across the United States and Canada deliver meals to seniors in their community. Mayor Mertens, however, has been delivering the meals for more than five years here in the County. The campaign began in the United States to increase public awareness, ensure that seniors, caregivers and others know about the program and to recruit new volunteers.
“We were pleased that Mayor Mertens agreed to participate. He’s been involved with delivering Meals on Wheels in our community for more than five years,” said Ken Noble, chair of Prince Edward Community Care’s board of directors.
Community Care has both hot and frozen meals available. They are low in sodium and special diets can be accommodated. Requests to join the program are received from seniors, their family and caregivers, physicians or others.
“It’s a marvellous program here in our community,” Muriel says. “It’s also nice to have that human contact for people living on their own and it’s nice to see that smile. My favourite meal is the fish florentine,” Muriel adds. “That cheese sauce is just delicious.”
There is also a safety factor to regular Meals on Wheels visits, adds Ron Aruisais, Muriel’s regular Meals on Wheels visitor.
“If there is no response at the door, I don’t leave until I find out why.”
Prince Edward County Community Care for Seniors Association supports seniors to live independently at home. Services also include transportation to medical appointments and shopping, lunches, help with income tax, reassurance programs, caregiver support, homemaking, yard work and home maintenance. The agency is partly funded by the Ministry of Health and Long Term Care through the South East Local Health Integration Network and is supported by donations and community fundraising efforts.
For more information, call Community Care at 613-476-7493.