‘It’s more than a meal’: 87 per cent increase in Meals on Wheels clientele in Huron Perth

Meals on Wheels Huron Perth is highlighting increasing demand for services with local mayors delivering meals. CTV London's Scott Miller explains.

Barb Salter is always excited to open her door for One Care’s Meals on Wheels program.

“It means a lot to me, because I’m a diabetic and this keeps my sugar in line. And they’re always so nice when they deliver the parcels to me,” the retired Goderich resident said.

Salter is one 249 clients who received Meals on Wheels in Huron and Perth counties last month. That’s an 87 per cent increase from February 2025, when there were only 133 clients.

“In Huron and Perth, we’re easily around 2,000 meals in a month’s time. So last month, we were right at that 2,000 mark, and we’re continuing to grow in each of our rural communities in Huron and Perth counties,” said One Care Community Support Supervisor Megan Howe.

“We know that’s so critical for social isolation. We need to ensure that people in our community are connected, and some people don’t leave their home for the entire month. So that could be someone’s connection. If they get a meal three times a week that’s their ‘Hello, and how are you doing?’ So, it’s important,” added One Care Huron-Perth Executive Director Stephanie Ellens-Clark.

To mark March for Meals Month, local mayors became Meals on Wheels delivery people for a day, seeing firsthand the difference hand delivered meals make for some isolated seniors.

“It means a lot, because I don’t drive anymore,” said client Linda Renon.

“I think it’s all about making that personal connection a simple hello, knocking on the door and providing a hot meal to someone. This could be their only meal that they have for the day. That is so important for someone,” explained Goderich Mayor Trevor Bazinet.

One Care says Meals on Wheels also plays in role in preventative healthcare by keeping seniors out of nursing homes and local emergency rooms by possibly preventing falls.

“If someone’s just eating tea and toast, that’s not enough to keep them going. And so, we know this is a big part of the sector, but it’s also a big part of health care in Ontario, and supporting that,” said Ellens-Clark.

For Barb Salter, it’s one of the highlights of her week, when One Care volunteers knock on her door with a hot meal in hand.

“There’s lots of food, and great variety, too. You don’t get the same thing all the time, and it’s well balanced. As I say, it keeps my sugar down, which is a big thing for a diabetic,” she said.