With almost 700 other volunteer services nationwide celebrating, the morning tea acknowledged the community contributions of Orange Meals on Wheels volunteers.

Meals on Wheels services 178 people city-wide as part of the Choices at Home program, and employs three paid staff along with over 200 volunteers.

Several Bunnings Warehouse staff members were on hand to help serve the morning tea to the Meals on Wheels volunteers and councillor Ron Gander paid tribute to all those who selflessly donate their time.

“The Meals on Wheels service provides an important community connection through calling at homes each day to provide a cheery welcome, daily contact and check that each valued client is safe and well,” he said.

“Orange as a city has over 132 volunteer organisations, if you took the volunteers out the town would stop. We have to acknowledge them. Our volunteers get a feeling of self worth and purpose in their lives, and the people they help get a lot out of it as well. It’s a win-win situation.”

Choices at Home staff also used the morning tea to show off the new 12-seater bus, designed at affording Orange’s elderly more opportunities and to alleviate social isolation.

Cr Gander explained the bus will complement the existing community transport options on offer in Orange.

“Social isolation is an acute problem among our older residents,” Cr Gander explained.

“Whether it’s Meals on Wheels or the new bus, the aim is to ensure that our older people remain connected and active in the community and are able to live independently in their own homes for as long as possible. 

The new bus (increases) access to support activities such as shopping, yoga, tai chi, walking groups, the community restaurant, movies, local events and excursions around the region and beyond.”