|
Members of the WRVS in Hythe were celebrating
(Thursday 8th June 2006) after donations of more than £5,000
were given for a new vehicle to deliver much-needed meals
to vulnerable senior citizens living at home.
The Women's Royal Voluntary Service based in Hythe has 37
volunteers who deliver on average, 90 meals a week, and without
this service many people in the area wouldn't have contact
with the outside world.
The ‘Meals on Wheels’ service delivers a hot
midday meal for people who are unable to cook for themselves
and there is no one else who can help them.
Wendy Ince, WRVS Organiser, said: "We have been without
a vehicle for nearly 2 years and the volunteers have been
using their own cars to deliver meals during this time".
She went on to say, "The fact that the money has been
donated for the purchase of a WRVS vehicle, means that volunteers
will now be able to use the new vehicle to deliver hot meals.
We aim to provide good quality food, delivered at the correct
temperature, and this is where the new vehicle will be invaluable."
The ‘Meals on Wheels’ service offers a hot delivered
meal which consists of a main meal and a sweet at the cost
of £2.70 per meal; the Hythe branch offers meals on
Mondays, Tuesdays and Fridays, and covers the Waterside area.
Donations came from Dibden Allotments Charity (£5000)
which was used to purchase the car from Pats Garage, Lyndhurst.
They very kindly ensured that the car had a full tank of
petrol when it was collected.
The keys to the car were officially handed over by Robin
Watton, Vice Chair of Dibden Allotments Charity. Mr Watton
said,” The Dibden Allotments Charity are delighted
to be able to provide funding for the car. The WRVS do a
super job and make a valuable contribution to the community”.
Exxon Mobil donated £500, Hythe Fire Engine Preservation
Society gave £250, and, with £1000 from the WRVS,
this money will go towards insuring the vehicle and its upkeep.
Wendy Ince thanked the volunteers for their hard work and
also gave thanks for the kind donations received to make
the Meals on Wheels car, a reality. “It has already
been out twice, doing the Fawley and Hythe rounds!” she
said.
The WRVS in the Waterside has had nearly 60 years experience
in helping in the community, and are always on the look out
for more volunteers who can take the place of long standing
members who are about to retire. If anyone can spare 2 hours
/month and is interested in becoming a driver or helper,
then contact Wendy Ince on 023 8089 2693, who can provide
more details.
At the presentation of long service medals and certificates
held afterwards, Jenny Hance representing the Vice Chair’s
Committee for Hampshire and the Isle of Wight, said, “There
are approximately 8 million meals delivered to people in
the UK by the WRVS, and it is not just the food that is important,
it is the human contact provided by the volunteers to people
living on their own, who might not see another soul all day.”
The volunteers are able to alert other agencies if anything
was amiss, and act as a vital link for our elderly.
Retiring members Rosemary Knieriem and Joyce Reede, both
served 20 years with the WRVS, and received Long Service
medals.
Also retiring in the near future will be Rosemary and Bob
Day; Rosemary has not only have clocked up lengthy service
in Bristol, but she volunteered for long service on the Waterside,
adding to nearly 30 years in total. Both, in their 80’s,
they have many more projects to undertake after retiring
with the WRVS!
Marion Humphries was presented with a certificate for 15
years with the WRVS New Forest Emergency Service, going out
to incidents and making sure that the professionals dealing
with major incidents have refreshments.
10 year long service awards were also to be presented to
Peter Reede, husband of Joyce, Ann Smith, Brenda Smith and
Janet Shore.
5 Year long service certificates were given to Heather Armitage,
Eileen Bartlett, Tony Humphries, Ray Knieriem (not present
at the meeting) and Doreen Clepham, who incidentally, has
served with the WRVS in Yorkshire until relocating to the
Waterside.
The Hythe WRVS do a sterling job for our local elderly people;
in fact the Government's own National Statistics show that,
throughout the UK over 2.5 million older people are socially
isolated within the community.
The UK has an ageing population which grew by 7% in the
past 30 years. To give an indication the total UK population
was 55.9 million in 1971 to 59.8 million in the summer of
2004.
The older population is ageing, within the population aged
65 and over the proportion of people aged 85 and over has
increased from 7% in 1971 to 12% in 2004". Source:-
Office of National Statistics.
The Meals on Wheels service for New Forest District Council
residents is provided by Hampshire County Council (New Forest
Social Services) in partnership with the WRVS.
|
