Mary

​Vancouver resident Mary is 92 years old and lives on her own. Mary has been receiving Meals on Wheels (MOW) for about three years. She first learned of the program after undergoing heart surgery; the hospital referred her to MOW to assist during her convalescence. After her recovery, Mary found that preparing meals for herself was becoming a challenge. The winter months were particularly difficult as she did not always feel safe carrying groceries home with her walker.

Knowing that MOW is there to assist helps Mary remain independent. She lives in the same house in which she was born and has no plans to leave. “I’m a veteran – I know how to take care of myself”, she says. She joined the Armed Forces in 1940, serving in Canada, England, Holland and Germany during the Second World War.

Mary is not alone. There are currently 820,000 seniors in BC representing 17% of the province’s population, many of whom choose to live independently in their own homes. By 2031, it has been estimated that BC will have 1.35 million seniors, representing 24% of the population. While our program is already essential for current clients, the demand for MOW is growing.