NEWS RELEASES
National Meals on Wheels Week
4th October 2007
THE CHAIRMAN of Horsham District Council has been helping to deliver meals on wheels to residents of Pulborough in West Sussex today (4 October).
Cllr Roger Paterson, who is Chairman of the Council as well as being a District Councillor of Pulborough and Coldwaltham and a resident of the area, was asked to do so to help celebrate this important service during national Meals on Wheels Week.
This year the national week is running from 1-7 October and is marking the diamond jubilee of Meals on Wheels: it is 60 years since the then named Womens Voluntary Service started in Welwyn Garden City.
Today, over 40 million Meals on Wheels are served annually to about 200,000 recipients with the Womens Royal Voluntary Service (WRVS) in West Sussex responsible for delivering around 400,000 of those meals out of ten kitchens.
Talking of his work distributing meals, Cllr Roger Paterson, Chairman of Horsham District Council, said:
“I know that the Pulborough community really appreciates the wonderful service that Linda Speer and her team provides for local residents and I would like to congratulate everyone on achieving such an important anniversary.
“And we mustn’t forget Alison Purchase and Gina Rogers who work so hard behind the scenes in the kitchen as well as help with deliveries.”
Speaking from the Pulborough Kitchen for Meals on Wheels, Linda Speer of the WRVS, said:
“We are very grateful to our band of wonderful volunteers who turn out in all weathers to deliver the meals.
“We are, of course, always very keen to recruit new members to join WRVS and help with this very worthwhile and rewarding voluntary work.
“Please telephone 01798 874661 if you would like to find out how you could help; just a couple of hours once or twice a month would benefit us so much.
“Pulborough kitchen covers a wide area including Ashington, Storrington, Washington, Thakeham, West Chiltington, Rackham, Amberley, Bury, Madehurst, Sutton and Coldwaltham.
“If you, or if you know a friend or relative who may require meals on wheels within our catchment area – or you would like to volunteer to help us run this important service - then please call 01798 874661.
“Alternatively call 01903 231341 for all other areas in West Sussex, and you will be referred to the relevant kitchen who will be pleased to help.
“Thank you to our volunteers and everyone else who make it possible to help local residents in this way.”
Ends
CONTACT: Richard Morris, Communications Manager
Email: richard.morris@horsham.gov.uk