For decades, Meals on Wheels volunteers have been the quiet force behind thousands of meals delivered across Peterborough. In 2023, that service was recognized in a very public way when the entire volunteer team was presented with the Volunteer of the Year Civic Award by Mayor Jeff Leal at City Hall.
Two volunteers represented the group in Council Chambers to accept the honour, while every Meals on Wheels volunteer later received a certificate acknowledging their contribution. The glass award itself now rests in the Meals on Wheels office — and it has quickly become a point of pride. Volunteers often notice it when they stop by, a visible reminder that their daily efforts have been recognized by the whole community.
What made this recognition especially meaningful is that it celebrated not just one individual, but a team. Meals on Wheels is built on the idea of neighbours helping neighbours, and the Civic Award highlighted how hundreds of volunteers, together, make an impact far greater than any one person could achieve alone.
For many volunteers, the award serves as encouragement: a symbol that the kindness, reliability, and compassion they bring to every delivery do not go unnoticed. As one team, they share the honour — and the pride — of knowing their work helps keep our community strong.
