McLeese Lake Meals with Heart Society fills a service gap for rural seniors.

A new volunteer-run non-profit in McLeese Lake will begin preparing heart-smart frozen meals for rural seniors in January after receiving initial seed funding including a $1,000 Cariboo Regional District grant and a $400 donation.

McLeese Lake Meals with Heart Society is a newly incorporated, volunteer-run non-profit formed to support seniors in the McLeese Lake area. The group grew from community members noticing increasing isolation among older residents and is led by president Dana Crowley with several local volunteers. Organizers obtained the required Interior Health permit and plan to begin preparing heart-smart frozen meals in January. The society aims to reach seniors who face barriers to existing meal programs in this rural community. Program details: - The society will deliver meal packages every two weeks that include eight frozen main meals, six servings of soup, and desserts. - Meals are described as heart-smart, focused on low-sodium ingredients, lean proteins, and lower-fat starches, and will use salt-free broths and products. - Menus will rotate through 16 options, including dishes such as shepherd’s pie with vegetables, lasagna with mixed vegetables, and chicken meals with rice and vegetables. - The group was formed in part because the Williams Lake Meals on Wheels program cannot serve McLeese Lake due to a 40-kilometre distance. - Applications opened recently and seven seniors had applied; paper applications are available at local points like the post office, library, and café, and phone assistance is being offered. - Initial seed funding includes a $1,000 grant from the Cariboo Regional District and a $400 donation from Xatśūll First Nation, and organizers plan further grant applications, including one to United Way in March. Summary: The society will begin preparing and distributing meals in January and intends to provide regular, low-sodium meal packages to participating seniors every two weeks. Organizers have secured initial funding and are pursuing additional grants, and they say they hope the program can grow into a lasting community support with social opportunities for seniors.