News Release Archive
SENIOR CITIZENS' SECRETARIAT--INTERNATIONAL MEALS ON WHEELS DAY
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International Meals on Wheels Day will be celebrated on Sept. 3,
1997.
The day is designed to honour the thousands of Meals on Wheels
volunteers as well as to increase public awareness of the
integral part the program plays in helping elderly people
maintain their independence and continue living in their homes.
Brian Vandervaart, director of the Senior Citizens' Secretariat
of Nova Scotia, said demand for services like Meals on Wheels
will only increase as the population ages.
"That is why I think it is extremely important to recognize these
programs and show the countless volunteers that we appreciate
their hard work and dedication that makes this program such a
success," said Mr. Vandervaart.
Currently, more than three million Canadians are 65 years of age
or over. By the mid-2020s, the proportion of seniors in the North
American population is expected to grow to more than 20 per cent
from the current 12 per cent.
Meals on Wheels began in Nova Scotia in 1969 with three
volunteers delivering six meals in Halifax. Now, more than 600
volunteers provincewide serve an estimated 3,400 meals a week.
The success of the program lies with these volunteers, and
co-ordinators say there's always room for more.
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Contact: Fran Sutherland
Senior Citizens' Secretariat
902-424-5329
ngr August 25, 1997 - 8:48 am
