As temperatures drop and food insecurity rises, volunteers from a local nonprofit Oakville Meals on Wheels are providing food and comfort for those who are in need.
For nearly 50 years, they've been delivering hot meals to residents across the town, ensuring vulnerable community members have access to both sustenance and a friendly connection year-round—including during the holiday season.
The organization partners with Mo’s Family Restaurant, where the meals are prepared and sent out every weekday. But the true heart of the program lies with its dedicated volunteers.
"They are honestly the lifeblood of what we do," said Jacqueline Nadeau, program and communications manager at Oakville Meals on Wheels.
"It’s amazing because volunteerism is down. So we are extremely lucky that we have the volunteer base that we do and they are amazing people who love doing what they do."
With nearly 80 volunteers, the nonprofit delivers hot meals every weekday at lunchtime, free of charge. But their work goes beyond meal delivery. Volunteers also perform informal wellness checks, ensuring clients are doing well through friendly conversations. If a client seems unwell, volunteers notify Oakville Meals on Wheels or contact emergency contacts for support.
“It’s not a drop-and-go service,” Nadeau explained. “Sometimes, our volunteers are the only people some of our clients see on any given day.”
The nonprofit is currently running its bi-annual holiday chocolate fundraiser, where Purdys chocolates are sold to help fund extra meals for clients on New Year’s Eve. The fundraiser, which started on Monday, Nov. 18, 2024 and will end on Tuesday, Dec. 3, 2024, donates 25 per cent of gross sales to the organization.
Last year, the fundraiser generated between $1,000 and $1,500. While the amount may seem modest, Nadeau says it makes a meaningful impact.
“This is going to directly pay for these meals,” said Nadeau, who also spearheads this fundraiser. “It’s going to help someone who may not have the same assets as you do.”
Volunteers also play a key role in the fundraiser, raising awareness and occasionally delivering chocolate orders.
“We usually ask people to pick up [the chocolates] from our office, but the volunteers are more than happy to take some of the orders and deliver them for free,” Nadeau said.
As the holiday season approaches, Oakville Meals on Wheels and its volunteers remind the community that even small gestures—like delivering a meal or purchasing chocolates—can create a ripple effect of kindness. This work demonstrates the power of coming together to support neighbours in need, ensuring no one is left behind, especially during the colder months, Nadeau says.
“Oakville always has this perception as being very affluent,” Nadeau said. “But there are really pockets in Oakville that are no different than any other city or town that you live in.”