Meals on Wheels Tamworth sees massive increase in clients, receives crucial grant

Organisers put it down to an ageing population, increased awareness of the service and the impact of COVID-19 restrictions.

The volunteers' efforts have not gone unnoticed though, with the group recently receiving a $5000 grant from the federal government.

Tamworth manager Peter Gallagher said the funds will be put towards completing police checks for staff - which have to be updated every three years - and paying for fuel.

"We're very appreciative of the Commonwealth government and Barnaby [Joyce] in particular, for granting us this money, which supports our volunteers.

He said the volunteers have put in around 14,000 hours of work over the past year, but new rules had made things difficult for them and their clients.

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"What's become more difficult is the social interaction with the clients, because of the social distancing rules and the masks, all of our delivery drivers have to wear masks," he said.

"We also practice nil-contact delivery, which means in most cases we place the meals on a table or chair out front and knock on the door, then the client comes and picks it up.

"So those changes have been the most important, and the other one is the double-vaccination rule, as of the 29^th of November we have not been able to use any volunteers that aren't double vaxxed."

Given they are classed as being part of the aged care system, those rules will not be lifted as of December 15 either.

Despite this, he has full confidence in their ability to continue delivering the 400 meals per day which they produce.

Meals on Wheels Tamworth was just one of 32 volunteer grants handed out across the New England, at a total cost of $122,000.

Other local organisations to receive funds included Tamworth District Scout Groups and Tamworth Riding for the Disabled, which received $4500 and $5000 respectively.

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