Community Care Marks Milestone Anniversary with Year-Long Celebrations
Community Care is proud to announce the 60th anniversary of the Meals on Wheels program, which has been serving the Peterborough community since October 22, 1964. What began with just seven meals provided by Civic Hospital and delivered by volunteers from the Rotary Club of Peterborough has grown into a vital service that now provides over 50,000 meals annually to seniors and adults with physical challenges across the city and county of Peterborough.
To commemorate this important milestone, Community Care Peterborough will be celebrating throughout the upcoming year with a variety of events and initiatives, including the popular Meals to Go program and a special 60 Stories for 60 Years series.
A Growing Legacy of Care
Since its transfer to Community Care in 2004, Meals on Wheels has become an essential part of the organization’s services. Initially delivering 25,000 meals annually, the program has doubled its reach, now delivering hot and frozen meals five days a week to clients across the city and county of Peterborough. During the COVID-19 pandemic, additional services such as grocery deliveries were introduced, further expanding the program’s impact.
“This anniversary is a testament to the generosity and dedication of our volunteers, donors, and community partners,” says Danielle Belair, CEO of Community Care Peterborough. “Meals on Wheels has always been more than just a meal—it’s a connection, a check-in, and a reminder that no one is alone. We are proud to have supported this program for 20 years, and we look forward to many more years of service.”
Stories of Community
As part of the 60th anniversary celebrations, Community Care Peterborough will launch the 60 Stories for 60 Years series in November. Each week, a new vignette will be shared on the organization’s social media channels, highlighting key moments, volunteers, and community partners who have played a significant role in Meals on Wheels’ history. These stories will include people like the late Bernice Clark, the program’s first employee and longtime champion, and Hester Carson, a volunteer who donated holiday cakes made by her decorating class at the YWCA in the 1960s. The series will also feature Murray Street Baptist Church which provided the first official headquarters for Meals on Wheels.
Join the Celebration with Meals to Go
As part of the anniversary, the popular Meals to Go program will return this December and March. The community is invited to purchase their lunch, often shared at their business or office, with a portion of the sales supporting Meals on Wheels. You can also choose to donate meals to seniors in need. This December, Community Care has set a goal of reaching 600 donated meals to support seniors across the region. The next round of deliveries will take place on December 3, 2024, with orders open from October 25 to November 20. For more details, visit www.commcareptbo.org/mealstogo.
Supporting Meals on Wheels
Over the past 60 years, Meals on Wheels has grown thanks to the support of hundreds of volunteers who have helped prepare and deliver meals, as well as the generous contributions from donors, funders, and corporate sponsors. This community support ensures that meal costs remain affordable and that subsidies are available for those most in need.
For more information on the Meals on Wheels program or to learn how you can get involved in the 60th anniversary celebrations, contact us at 705-742-7067.
