Dwindling call for meals at home threatens vital service

A VOLUNTARY service which provides hot meals to the doors of those who need it most may be forced to close because of a lack of elderly customers.

Meals-On-Wheels, run by the Women's Royal Voluntary Service (WRVS), has more volunteers than customers – of which there are less than 10.

If more are not found the service, which provides a hot meal every day for the pensioners and needy, may have to stop.

The project manager for Meals-On-Wheels is Marcia Hughes, who couldn't explain the sudden decline in customers.

"We just haven't got the mouths to feed and soon it will not be worth our while.

"We know there must be more people out there who would benefit from our service," she said.

Rumour

"I'm told there was a rumour going round saying that we were no longer running in the St Austell area, but that simply isn't true – for the moment."

Meals-On-Wheels delivers a hot meal and a pudding to the door of anyone who needs it for the competitive price of just £4.65 – considerably lower than other private enterprises.

The WRVS is a non-profitable organisation which has been running for more than 70 years and also runs similar very successful food services in Falmouth and Redruth.

Just under a year ago the St Austell Guardian ran a story saying the service was in desperate need of volunteers and thankfully the project was saved from closure, yet again, after several volunteers came forward.

Edna Bache, 89, of Eastbourne Road, St Austell, uses the service four times a week and wants to see the project continue.

"I completely rely on it, it's a lifesaver," she said. "It's a very good arrangement and I am sure there must be plenty of people in the town who would want to see the service continue." Anyone interested in using the service is encouraged to get in contact with Marcia on 01209 218179 or 07900240532.