As well as always welcoming new clients for the service, new delivery drivers are always welcome.

The commitment is not high – just about an hour to an hour and a half during the middle of the day – but the outcome for the community is immense.

Kim Windebank, Care Co-ordinator at Dungog and District Neighbourcare Inc. which operates the service, said the meals enable people to stay in their own homes for  as long as possible.

“And that’s exactly what our service is about,” she said.

“Eating well assists good health.

“Our meals are monitored by a dietitian and we have the ability to cater for dietary requirements or food allergies.

“People can have a continual service or a short term plan.”

Volunteers also find it very rewarding Ms Windebank said.

“The clients and the deliverers get to know each other and the exchange between them is wonderful.”

The “homemade” meals are all hot and fresh – prepared in either the Dungog Hospital or Tocal College kitchens.

These two kitchens have been preparing fresh cooked meals for the Neighbourcare clients across the shire for more than  25 years. Every meal is prepared with  attention to the individual needs of the recipients and cater to the particular dietary and cultural needs.

Each week around 200 meals are prepared and delivered by the team of volunteers.

“We aim to have an exceptional service, not just a good one and the we get positive feedback from clients so we know we are on the right track.”

There is a frozen service available and while Monday, Wednesday and Friday are the main days for the hot fresh service, it can be seven days, according to the needs of the client.

New clients are encouraged to make contact with Neighbourcare on  49923348,  who will be happy to assist with the process to access services through My Aged Care.