REPORT

NOV 17 on?

Mayer and Council November 14th, 1975

L.D. Pollock
City Administrator

Re: Meals On Wheels Programme

The City has been sponsoring a programme called Meals On Wheels since late
1973. The programme involves a group of volunteer drivers who deliver
meals to shut~ins or elderly citizens within the City. The programme has
been successful and quite popular and at the present time, the volunteers
are delivering an average of 100 meals a month. These are delivered three
times a week and involve an average of 9 people per delivery.

The City has been subsidizing the programme to the extent of 25 cents per
meal and I have been approached by the Co-ordinator of the programme to

see if the City would consider increasing its subsidy. The group has been
purchasing meals at a cost of $1.25 ever since the programme was instituted
and the supplier of the meals has indicated that he cannot continue at this
vate as it is below his cost. The Co-ordinator has contacted various out~
lets capable of providing the meals and it would appear that the cost of the
meals will have to rise to $2.00 per meal. They have proposed that the cost
of the meals to the recipients be increased from $1.00 to $1.50 (this is the
rate presently being charged in the City of New Westminster for the same
pregramme) and they have requested that the City increase its subsidy from
25¢ to 50¢ to cover the balance of the cost. The meals are presently being
provided by the Commercial Hotel. The group has checked other outlets to
try and find an alternative supplier at competitive rates for meals, however,
most of the local restaurants are not interested as the preparation of the
meals conflicts with their busy lunch hour period. The group also checked
with Hawthorne Lodge and although there may be some possibility in the future
of obtaining meals from this source, the management there are not able to
undertake the preparation of the meals at this time. :

The volunteer group would ask for Council's consideration in this matte
indicated above, it would increase our monthly costs from approximately
per month to $50.00 per month, in terms of the subsidy. The group-has
asked for early consideration because they are required to make some defn
arrangements by Friday, November 21st.