McCallister Concerned Over Community Service Meals

“Community Meals meet the nutritional guidelines set out by the Government, they help reduce social isolation and enable people to stay in their own homes and be as independent for as long as possible.” [caption id="attachment_27680" align="alignleft" width="400" caption="Noel Irvine, Domestic Care driver, Kathy Wilson, UUP Constituency Office worker, South Down MLA John McCallister and Domestic Care Operations director Lesley Megarity."][/caption] Mr McCallister said, “I will be tabling an Assembly question to see how each Trust intends to meet these nutritional guidelines given the situation that Community Meals are under threat. “Seeing for myself the difference these meals make to people’s everyday lives, I am determined to fight for the retention of this service.” He added, “I went out on the delivery run with Domestic Care driver Noel Irvine in Newcastle on Friday (2nd September). I saw how Noel does a lot more than deliver meals to the most vulnerable in society. “In many cases it is a lifeline, and the regular contact with a driver is the only contact they have with another person. Noel often goes over and above the call of duty helping put bins out, putting away shopping and numerous other acts of kindness which make a massive difference to people’s quality of lives. “Noel has a real bond with these people and that was obvious to see. We should be protecting and encouraging eligibility for Community Meals to support our older and vulnerable people.” Based in Newtownards, Domestic Care has been in operation since 1993. It has delivered more than 15 million meals across Northern Ireland in four health trusts. They have a perfect hygiene record, all meals are made using local produce and in partnership with local farms.]]>