Meals on Wheels
Meals on Wheels (MOW) Started in 1976 when Lee Hamilton noticed that Meals on Wheels clients could use something to brighten their Christmas meal trays. Johnny Duffus formed a committee to get the project started and since then Garden Club Members have made over 20,000 flower arrangements for Meals on Wheels trays. Three times a year – at Easter, Thanksgiving and Christmas, The MOW Committee purchases flowers, members bring greens from their gardens, and all members come together to create over 200 small bouquets, which are then picked up by Meals on Wheels volunteers for distribution on the holiday meal trays. It’s a big job but very well organized. Each member picks from the selection of greens, selects their flowers, and while sitting and chatting with friends creates these lovely small bouquets.
1. Selecting greens from member gardens (above) and getting started!
3. Greening the oasis prepared by the Committee.
Workers at the flower tables – not many flowers left!
December MOW is called Serendipity; once the bouquets have been collected the Club celebrates the holiday season with a buffet luncheon and bake sale. The proceeds from the sale of goodies from members’ kitchens goes into the Club’s donations coffer, which funds our various projects and philanthropic endeavours.
2. Selecting from variety of flowers purchased by Flower Committee.
4. Adding flowers and finishing touches!
While all this is going on ….. catching up with each other!
200 plus gorgeous wee bouquets placed on the MOW trays – a holiday treat for the recipients!
Cookies, breads, jams, Christmas cakes and many other culinary delights from
the members’ kitchens are part of the Serendipity Sale which is part of the
Club’s Fundraising Program.
Flowers for Care Facilities In conjunction with the Meals on Wheels bouquets, Club Members have also created more than 500 large bouquets which are delivered to hospices and specialized care facilities in the city. Current recipients of the bouquets are Canuck Place, Ronald MacDonald House, Vancouver Hospice Society, Covenant House Women’s Shelter, First United Shelter, May’s Place, Powell Place Women’s Shelter, Union Gospel Mission, Cottage Hospice, Family Respite Centre, The Taylor Manor (Kettle Society) and St. John Hospice.
Easter Bouquets Thanksgiving Bouquets Christmas Bouquets
