On June 1, 1989, more than 200 volunteers gathered at the Holiday Inn in Peterborough to mark the 25th anniversary of Meals on Wheels. It was a day filled with emotion and pride—one that honoured not only a milestone in time, but the thousands of acts of care that had made it possible.
The celebration brought founder Elizabeth Janusz back to the program she had helped launch in 1964. After cutting a large birthday cake in front of the crowd, she offered a simple and heartfelt message: “Thank you. I love you.” Her words captured what many felt that day—a profound appreciation for the volunteers who had helped Meals on Wheels grow into one of the city’s most cherished services.
That gratitude was echoed by leaders near and far. A congratulatory letter from Prime Minister Brian Mulroney was read aloud, offering his “deep appreciation for your efforts.” Peterborough MPP Peter Adams sent a commemorative plaque and a letter recognizing Meals on Wheels as “the most basic and human of volunteer organizations.”
At the time of the celebration, Meals on Wheels had grown to deliver more than 2,300 meals each week along twelve routes, supported by over 600 volunteers. The program now operated five days a week, meeting the needs of more clients than ever before. That scale was impressive, but it was the personal relationships—the quiet conversations, the familiar knock at the door—that truly defined the service.
The 25th anniversary was a celebration of growth, yes—but more than that, it was a moment to say thank you. Meals on Wheels had flourished not because of infrastructure or funding, but because hundreds of people had chosen, day after day, to show up with a warm meal and an open heart.
