Food works when it helps feed isolated seniors and helps employ at-risk youth – at least that’s the idea behind Operation Come Home’s newest project.
Foodworks is the newest social enterprise available at the Centretown-based organization that serves young people who have left home and face challenges finding shelter, employment and other essentials.
At-risk youths will deliver $8 meals throughout Centretown to seniors who have applied. The program will begin once 10 clients have registered.
“We want to bridge that [generation] gap and we want to introduce different sectors of the community,” says Reem Buhaisi, program co-ordinator at Operation Come Home.
The project is a partnership with the Causeway Work Centre and Operation Come Home’s farm in Blackburn Hamlet, which provides organic produce.
“This is sort of one level up from your average Meals on Wheels,” says Don Palmer, executive director at Causeway Work Centre. The Centre is a not-for-profit that helps people overcome disabilities and other challenges to find work and live more independently. “So this is higher quality, higher nutrition, tasty meals.”
The meals will be delivered to seniors within a seven-kilometre radius of the Causeway Work Centre at 22 O’Meara St. Electric bikes will be used during the summer to deliver warm or cold meals.
During the winter, VRTUCAR rental, OC Transpo, walking, and relying on volunteer drivers will deliver the meals.
“A lot of the seniors in Ottawa live in isolation, and oftentimes the only time they get to see someone is either for a medical visit or if someone’s dropping off food,” says Buhaisi.
The meals include a main dish, two sides, and a choice of dessert or salad. They will be delivered between 3 and 6 p.m. on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, and can be provided on a short- or long-term basis.
“There are lots of seniors that have the financial ability to pay for meals, but it may be necessary for them to purchase meals to stay independent,” says Palmer. The project is expected to be a permanent part of Operation Come Home’s programming.
Ottawa has similar delivery programs in place, including Meals on Wheels, which charges $5.60 for a hot meal.