From its earliest days, Meals on Wheels in Peterborough was more than a meal delivery program — it was a model of community resourcefulness. Long before offices or computers, volunteers organized deliveries by hand and even invested in a telephone answering service so potential clients could call anytime to request a meal. It was an early sign of the program’s determination to make help easy to reach.
In 1983, that spirit of growth took a big step forward when a $9,530 New Horizons for Seniors grant helped the program move out of the basement of Murray Street Baptist Church into its own office at the Queen Alexandra Centre. A decade later, another New Horizons grant of $21,912 helped Meals on Wheels embrace the digital age. The funding supported the installation of a computerized inventory system to coordinate 668 volunteers delivering meals to over 500 clients — and provided training to staff and volunteers alike.
Each investment reflected a belief that innovation and compassion go hand in hand. From basements to databases, Meals on Wheels has grown with the times while never losing sight of its purpose: ensuring that every client receives not just a meal, but care delivered with dignity and warmth.
