Expansion of Meals on Wheels feeding programme

Jamaica: The National Council for Senior-Citizens (NCSC) has extended its Meals on Wheels feeding programme to various rural communities.

Under the programme, cooked meals are given for the elderly and shut-ins throughout the week and food packages on public holidays.

Persons can take advantage of the provisions based on the scope of their needs.

Meals have initially been provided to senior citizens in the Corporate Area who are enrolled under the programme.

However, Labour and Social Minister, Hon. Karl Samuda, who has responsibility for the NCSC, announced the decision was taken to extend the initiative and make the benefits possible to more persons across the nation.

As part of the momentum, this, he stated, prioritises food security for this organisation, noting that “they are the ones who are the most helpless.”

He was addressing during the recent Jamaica Red Cross virtual biennial general assemblage.

Mr Samuda stated the Ministry is tasked with promoting Jamaica’s most vulnerable, noting that it extends to oversee various initiatives directed at assisting these individuals.

“We have had to be imaginative in what we do and how we reach out to the poor and marginalized people. We have been providing critical supplies to these respective groups. These include the $94 million earmarked emergency relief programme for those people rigorously impacted by the economic downturn resulting from the coronavirus pandemic,” he stated.

In this vein, Mr Samuda commended the Jamaica Red Cross for supporting the nation’s COVID-19 response.

“Thank you for your continued assistance to Jamaica, and especially over the past year in this battle against COVID-19. I urge all the organisations, and corporations too, to partner with us as we proceed together to serve the whole method of tackling these challenges more efficiently,” he stated.

Noting that the association has, so far, volunteered 18,000 hours to coronavirus relief efforts, Mr Samuda asked for greater collaboration to establish the partnership besides.

“This will stimulate the whole process of compensation to the most vulnerable in our community,” he continued.

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