Meals on Wheels service for film festival
Cope Galway’s Community Catering is featuring at the prestigious Galway International Film Fleadh on Wednesday as part of the film festival’s “Way out West” programme of short films.
Meals on Wheels produce and deliver over 40,000 meals in Galway annually, supporting older people to live independently at home. This short film looks at the range of people who use, volunteer and work in the service.
“We are delighted to have the opportunity at this international event to showcase our award-winning Meals on Wheels service and to let our clients and volunteers tell their story to a wider audience,” says Anne Kenny, the manager of the service.
“This film offers a glimpse of the impact that the service has from the perspective of older people and their families and also gives an insight as to what it means to be a volunteer.”
The Meals on Wheels service has been operating since the 1970s and one of the original staff is now using the service to help her to live independently. Her daughter reflects on this in the film, commenting on “the circle of life”.
Over 120 of Cope Galway’s volunteers are based at Community Catering, which produces meals at its facility in Ballybane using fresh, quality ingredients. The service was joint-winner recently of a national EIQA quality award for Hygiene and Food Safety.
Anne says: “I think the film also helps demonstrate that our Meals on Wheels service is a professional outfit that gives paying customers choices and control over their nutritional health and wellbeing”.
“The film captures how important home is to older people and how it takes a whole team to ensure that an older person can stay at home independently. The film shows that by helping together we can make that happen.
“Showing this film at the Film Fleadh gives our clients and their families, our volunteers, and staff a chance to see themselves on the silver screen”, says Anne.
“It’s also an opportunity for the public to learn about what’s involved in making sure that older people in our community are supported in their efforts to continue living independently in their own homes.”
“Way out West” will be screened as part of the New Irish Shorts programme at the Galway Film Fleadh, Radisson BLU Hotel on Wednesday, July 8 from 12pm. If you would like to find out more about Meals on Wheels or are interested in volunteering with the service contact 091 700800.
COPE Galway is a local organisation providing supports and services for people affected by homelessness, women and children experiencing domestic violence, and older people.