Today, Meals on Wheels celebrates its 61st year of helping people across Australia.

The staff and volunteers in Bathurst last year served up 209,000 meals across the Central West to those in need.

Bathurst manager Linda Roskiewicz said their Watt Drive facility acts as the main distribution centre for the Central West.

“A lot of people think Meals on Wheels is a tiny operation, but we’re one of the largest production kitchens in the state,” she said.

There are 17 staff and 200 volunteers in Bathurst who provide services including meal delivery, gardening, truck driving and kitchenhand work. 

These staff and volunteers not only assist 188 clients in Bathurst, but ensure 20 other Central West Meals on Wheels outlets are stocked and able to fulfil their delivery requirements.

“The meals go to frail aged people and younger people with a disability and their carers,” Mrs Roskiewicz said. “At any one time there are 16,000 frozen meals here.”

Mrs Roskiewicz said Meals on Wheels deliveries provide varied benefits.

“The object of the project is to try and keep the elderly in their home as long as possible, and it’s also about the contact,” she said.

Mrs Roskiewicz said Meals on Wheels’ delivery drivers make sure their clients are okay.

“They can check on their wellbeing,” she said.

There are 75,000 Meals on Wheels volunteers nationwide who deliver to almost 60,000 people each day.

For more information on volunteering with Bathurst Meals on Wheels, call Donna Townson on 6331 8231.