Theresa Morris suffered a serious illness last year and couldn’t drive for eight weeks. She also lost interest in cooking and didn’t have much of an appetite. So, her daughter arranged the Meals on Wheels (MOW) program for her through the Victorian Order of Nurses (VON).

“Because of my medical problems, I need to have at least one substantial meal a day,” explained Ms. Morris. “If it weren’t for Meals on Wheels, I would have to have someone pick things up for me. So getting three meals a week delivered to my door is a real help and the volunteers are wonderful people.”

The MOW program is one of the VON programs that gets help from the United Way (UW) of Newfoundland and Labrador. Over the next few weeks, Memorial employees have the chance to give to the United Way through the payroll deduction campaign.

Jennifer Jewer, an instructor at the Marine Institute, has been on the VON board for four years and recently took on the role of chairperson. Ms. Jewer was moved after hearing a story of how VON services enabled an elderly gentleman with mobility issues to improve his mobility such that he was able to walk his daughter down the aisle on her wedding day.

“This is just one example, and there was story after story of such examples. The stories of how VON helps continue to keep me motived.”

Dr. Sandra LeFort, a professor in the School of Nursing, has been a VON board member for eight years.

“I was impressed by the community support programs that VON sponsors. These are real needs in the community that serve not only seniors but many people.”

Dr. LeFort says community support programs, like MOW, are very valuable.

“Many volunteer drivers deliver these meals every day. Without this service, many seniors would not be eating well-balanced meals. As well, the social contact with the senior means that the volunteer assures the client is safe and often stops to have a chat with them, in some cases, reducing their isolation.”

“Fundraising is challenging in these times of restraint, so the support by UW has been critically important to keeping our programs going,” noted Dr. LeFort. “The great thing about the UW is that it supports so many really important programs that otherwise would not exist without.”

Ms. Jewer thinks the reasons for giving are obvious. “By donating to the payroll campaign, Memorial employees are helping organizations like us to provide much needed services in the community and are helping to make our society a better place.”