When Grant Stockdale retired five years ago, he wanted to spend his time giving back to the community where he lived.
The 70-year-old Wyndham Vale resident signed up as a Meals-on-Wheels volunteer, and now delivers as many as 17 meals per shift to Wyndham residents.
He will also start volunteering one day a week at Footscray’s Western Hospital, after he was treated there a few years ago.
“It gives me something to do and it’s also a chance to give something back to the community,” he said.
“Werribee’s been good to me, and volunteering gets you out and is a good way to meet people. I’d encourage anyone to do it.”
One of Mr Stockdale’s charges is 86-year-old Brian Thompson, who has meals delivered to his Werribee property three days a week.
Mr Thompson, who lives on his own, started receiving food from the Meals-on-Wheels service after his wife, Helen, was put into an aged-care facility.
“It saves me from cooking,” he said. “I visit my wife every day and feed her and then, when I get home, I don’t have to get my own meal; I just put it in the microwave.
“And there’s a good variety of food.”
Wyndham council is on the lookout for more volunteers for a number of its programs, including Meals-on-Wheels, planned activity groups, kids cooking, and tutors.
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