On a bright September afternoon in 1992, Meals on Wheels volunteers gathered for what looked and felt remarkably like a family reunion. Folding chairs appeared wherever people wanted to settle — some placed in the warm sun, others tucked gratefully into pockets of cool shade. A few volunteers perched on stoops or leaned comfortably against nearby doorways, chatting as if they had known each other forever. Early-90s windsuits added splashes of colour to the sunshine-filled yard, rustling softly whenever someone stood up to refill a plate or join a new conversation.
At the centre of the easygoing bustle stood Maurice Brawford, the day’s proclaimed “Barbecue Chef.” Wearing a bright red chef’s hat and holding a spatula with cheerful authority, he kept watch over a grill full of burgers. Even in still photographs, he radiates the kind of warm, joking energy that naturally gathers people around. In the kitchen and around the yard, volunteers drifted in and out of small groups — laughing, swapping stories, welcoming newcomers. It was the kind of gathering where no one seemed in a hurry to leave.
A newspaper article promoting the event captured the deeper purpose behind the celebration. Volunteers had been delivering meals locally for 28 years, serving people with special needs, convalescents needing short-term help, and frail older adults who could remain in their own homes because a hot meal — and a friendly visitor — arrived reliably at their door. Board President Betty Wright described the service as offering both nourishment and reassurance, noting the many letters they received from clients whose spirits were lifted by regular companionship.
Program Coordinator Bernice Clark added her own praise. “Our volunteers are terrific people and we could not operate without them,” she said. “No matter what the weather, they’re there and the meals go out on time.”
The gathering that day reflected exactly that spirit. It wasn’t formal or elaborate. It was warm, familiar, and grounded in genuine gratitude — neighbours coming together to celebrate neighbours. A simple barbecue, shared laughter, and a collective sense that everyone belonged.
More than thirty years later, the details of volunteer appreciation events may have changed. The chairs might be different, the outfits have certainly changed, and the settings vary from year to year. But the heart of it remains the same — a sincere tradition of honouring the people whose steady kindness makes Meals on Wheels possible across the City and County of Peterborough.
The backyard feeling endures. The gratitude endures even more.
