Meal Program
Frequently Asked Questions
Meals & Menu
How much do meals cost?
All meals, fresh or frozen, cost only $7.00 each — the lowest per meal cost in BC.
What does a meal include?
Meals are nutritionally balanced and always include a healthy portion of protein (chicken, fish, pork or beef, but sometimes vegetarian); two side dishes from a variety of starches and vegetables; soup and fresh bun; and dessert.
What kind of meal should I expect?
You can expect a hot and ready-to-eat, nutritious lunch-time meal of protein, two sides, soup and bun, and dessert. An example would be chicken supreme with sweet potatoes and green beans; vegetable soup with dinner roll; and fudge brownie for dessert.
Who makes the meals?
Meals are made by volunteers. Lead Cooks are required to have Food Safety Certification that ensures that they are knowledgeable about food handling, sanitation and worker safety, including food-borne illness, receiving and storing food, preparing food, serving food, cleaning and sanitizing.
Where are meals made and packaged?
Meals are made and packaged in the Sooke Community Hall kitchen.
Who determines the menu?
Menus are planned in advance by our volunteer Lead Cooks.
Is the meal program suitable for people with Diabetes?
For those who have Diabetes, we substitute the dessert for a portion of fruit. Meals are an otherwise nutritionally-balanced mix of protein, complex carbohydrates and healthy fats.
What if I have a food allergy?
Please indicate any serious anaphylactic food allergies on the application form and we will discuss options with you. As we are utilizing a singular community kitchen space, we cannot guarantee prevention of cross-contamination; therefore, we do not offer gluten-free meals suitable for people with Celiac Disease. Please note we cannot cater to food preferences.
Who delivers the meals?
Volunteer drivers use their own vehicles to deliver meals using containers that keep hot meals hot, and frozen meals frozen, during transport.
Do I need to return the meal containers?
No, all meal containers are recyclable.
Delivery & Payment
When are meals delivered?
Meals are delivered every Monday, Wednesday and Friday, from 10:30am to 12:30pm, including all statutory holidays — yes, even Christmas!
What about weekend meals?
We offer frozen meals to cover our non-delivery days, delivered (one per delivery day) along with fresh meals for reheating on Tuesday, Thursday and the weekend, respectively.
Can I change my delivery days?
No. To simplify the process for our volunteers, we deliver hot, ready-to-eat meals every Monday, Wednesday and Friday, including all statutory holidays — yes, even Christmas! However, you can pause or cancel your deliveries for any upcoming week with 7 days notice.
What if I cannot be home at the delivery time? (e.g. doctor’s appointment, etc.)
Phone us as soon as you know that you will be unable to receive the meal. We will stop the delivery if it isn’t too late. If you still wish to receive the meal, but will not be home, please provide an insulated cooler for us to leave it in.
Why are insulated coolers mandatory?
Although we’ll always knock first, sometimes we need to leave the meal on your porch to stay on schedule for all the deliveries. We ask that you provide an insulated cooler, for reasons of food safety and managing animal attractants.
Coolers should be placed outside the home in a safe and sheltered, visible and easily accessible location. If you live inside a multi-unit building with an interior hallway, you may use any clean container, labelled “Meals on Wheels.” Meals will not be delivered if no cooler is present, but will still be billed for, except in emergency situations. We strongly suggest placing ice packs inside coolers during warmer weather.
What area do you service?
Currently, we deliver to clients within a 10-minute drive of the Sooke Community Hall. Typically, this includes the area from Otter Point / Gordons Beach in the west to Woodlands Road in the east.
What if I live outside the delivery area?
If you live in East Sooke or Shirley or any other outlying areas, you can pickup your meals at the Sooke Community Hall on Wednesdays between 10:30–11:00am.
How do I pay for meals?
We accept Interac e-transfer (preferred) or cheque. Details will be on your invoice, provided at the beginning of every month. You can send a cheque with the driver on your next delivery day or mail it to:
Sooke Meals on Wheels
P.O. Box 398
Sooke, BC V9Z 1G1