A campaign is underway to revive a Meals on Wheels service in Portlaoise with a meeting planned for the parish centre, Portlaoise, on Monday, March 3 at 7.30pm.
Teresa McCloskey is organising the gathering to discuss the absence of a Meals on Wheels service since June 2023 and to facilitate the formation of a band of volunteers to get a new initiative off the ground.
The issue was also brought up by members of the Portlaoise Municipal District recently.
“We are inviting all to attend this meeting to learn more about this gap and discuss how to address the lack of the service in the town.
“The meeting will be attended by local Councillors, TDs and the National Meals on Wheels Network,” said Teresa whose parents, Teresa and the late Jim McCloskey who were both born in Portlaoise in the 1940s, are the driving force behind her determination.
“Meals on Wheels was originally run by a woman in Portlaoise hospital kitchen. On her retirement the HSE directed the service to stop.
“Rafters’ Restaurant in Laois Shopping Centre took it over for some years, offering meals at a discounted price to the elderly.
“When they closed, Hares’ Corner in Mountmellick started the same service but struggled to offer the meals at the same price,” Teresa contended.
According to the Portlaoise woman, they had hoped to keep providing the service but funding issues meant the service stopped in June 2023.
“Both my parents had been in receipt of the meals at this point. I started to make enquiries then.
“Cllr Marie Touhy has been a great support. She has raised the issues many times and attended meetings which included the attendance of many services including councillors, the HSE, Laois County Council, Meals on Wheels Network, Laois Volunteer Centre and Laois Partnership,” Teresa said.
“This was all to no avail. The lead organisations in Portlaoise all claim they do not have the funding or resources. I have been told the only way forward is to source local volunteers.
“I have the support of our local TDs, Laois Volunteer Centre and Laois Partnership who will attend the meeting.
“But with no premises we will rely heavily on local charities,” she said.
“There are over 500 local people over 70 years of age in Portlaoise and surrounding areas.
“Many of these have no access to hot meals, unable to cook for themselves with no family to help.
“Over 40 people had access to the service in June 2023 but I estimate many many more were in need of it,” said Teresa.
“Hot nutritious meals are a basic need that every individual in this town should have access to.
“People living alone want to keep their independence. Nutrition would go along way in helping many of our elderly stay out of hospitals and nursing homes.
“We have had a second hard winter without this service. A town as large as Portlaoise should be able to cater such basic needs.
“Portarlington, Stradbally and Mountmellick to name a few have amazing delivery services of meals running many years.
“In the last budget €10 million additional funding was given for day centres, community care and Meals on Wheels.
“Some of our neighbouring towns availed of €25,000 funding last year. We can’t even apply as we don’t have a service,” Teresa said.
Under the umbrella of Irish Rural Link (IRL), the National Meals on Wheels Network was established in 2015 with the overall aim of providing a professional service to assist Meals on Wheels organisations support people who require services to maintain optimum health and independence with strong life-extending possibilities.
Currently the National Meals on Wheels Network support 306 Meals on Wheels providers in the provision of over 2.7 million meals to over 160,000 people annually.
“The Meals on Wheels’ sector is seen as an essential frontline community service with providers around the country delivering meals to the elderly and vulnerable.
The sector is currently underfunded and has significant service gaps which exist across the country, with Portlaoise town being one of these areas.
“The sector is heavily reliant on volunteers to aid in the delivery of the service.
“We would greatly appreciate any volunteers who can spare some time to assist this service.
“Your support would be invaluable in ensuring its success. For more information please call (087) 9355761,” Teresa said.
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