Column: Donna Tiffin On Meals On Wheels

October 15, 2025 | 0 Comments

[Opinion column written by Donna Tiffin]

For 50 years Meals on Wheels Bermuda has carried out a simple yet essential mission: to prepare and deliver freshly cooked, nourishing meals to those who cannot do so for themselves. What began in 1975 with a handful of volunteers serving 15 clients from the King Edward Memorial Hospital kitchen has grown into an island-wide network delivering more than 46,000 meals a year.

Today, we serve an average of 225 clients, four days a week, 52 weeks a year – and the need is growing.

In Bermuda, 25% of households live below the poverty line, and 54% of families worry about affording healthy food. Many of our clients also require restrictive diets due to diabetes, renal disease, or swallowing difficulties – making it even harder for families to meet their needs. By providing nutritious, diet-specific meals, Meals on Wheels plays a vital role in reducing food insecurity and supporting health.

For clients and their families, Meals on Wheels delivers more than a meal. Trusted volunteers knock on doors four days a week, providing not only meals but also a human connection. For many clients, a friendly face and a chat brighten their day. For families, those visits bring reassurance: volunteers notice when something seems amiss and will check in with relatives and report back to the office. These interactions help seniors maintain independence and quality of life.

Since inception, unwavering community support has made our work possible. As of June 2025, our volunteer roster included 111 individual volunteers and several corporate teams. Under the guidance of our part-time management team, they prep, cook, clean, dispatch, and deliver. Volunteers serve as either regulars or fill-ins offering flexibility to those who want to assist.

We are equally grateful to the donors who sustain our work. In just the first half of 2025, gifts came in many forms: a woman asking friends to donate in honour of a milestone birthday, a young boy running a food drive, and a senior leaving us a gift in her will. These acts of generosity, alongside government grants and client contributions, keep our ovens on.

But the challenge is steep. Our 2025–26 expense budget is $650,000 – 13% higher than in 2022–23 – driven by the rising cost of food, preparation, and packaging. Government and client fees cover just 35% of this total. Every donation of money, food, services, or equipment makes a difference, enabling us to continue feeding those most in need.

For half a century, Meals on Wheels has woven itself into the colourful tapestry that is Bermuda. Brightly marked vehicles can be seen at lunchtime criss-crossing the island, a sign that help is on the way. Even during the pandemic, when volunteers were scarce and costs soared, meals were delivered – free of charge.

What began in 1975 with a small group of volunteers serving a small group of clients has endured and grown. Across 50 years we have delivered hundreds of thousands of meals to those in need and what was true in the beginning is true today – we simply cannot do it without your support. Please consider volunteering your time or making a donation today.

To learn more, visit www.mealsonwheels.bm or call 236-1815.

- By Donna Tiffin, Board Member, Meals on Wheels Bermuda