A WAIKERIE sporting club is taking care of its most vulnerable members during the COVID-19 pandemic and staying connected with a meal delivery project.
The Waikerie Bowling Club (WBC) has closed its facilities, but its catering committee has kept in contact with its elderly members by creating a food drop project with a once-a-week delivery – at no charge to the residents.
WBC and catering committee member Andy Fulwood said in the past seven weeks, over 220 meals have been delivered.
“To keep in line with COVID-19 social distancing, three bowling club members have been getting together once a week to cook and deliver food,” he said.
“We’re following strict food safety requirements and all meals are frozen before being delivered.
“After the first week’s deliveries went out, we had a really great response from the recipients, and they were glad of the contact, so we’ve kept it going.”
The project has been funded by the WBC committee and several of the club’s members.
“We’ve had generous donations of food from local shops like Rollbusch Quality Meats and Big River Foodland,” Mr Fulwood said.
“Most of the food has been coming out of the club funds and our own pockets, so we’re very grateful for the donations.”
Mr Fulwood said many members have been missing community contact the bowling club offers.
“A lot of our members only come out for the social bowls or the monthly meal nights, so with everything closed down, they’ve just been stuck at home,” he said.
“So those of us who are still able to go out have been keeping in touch with phone calls, or picking up their groceries from the shops, or dropping off a care package.
“It only takes that contact to keep the spirit of the bowling club family alive.”
To donate food items, contact Andy Fulwood at McCoy Menswear, Waikerie, on 8541 2202.