Before dedicating his Sundays to delivering for Meals on Wheels (MOW) for the last 22 years, Ian Cheung began his career at MBLL 36 years ago working in retail before moving into the quality control department. He was pleased to discover how these life experiences would connect through the Volunteer & Employee Giving Program.
“It’s inspiring to know that MBLL not only supports my efforts volunteering with Meals on Wheels, but that they also directly contribute to this charity as well,” said Ian. “It’s awesome to see how many employees have been dedicated to volunteering for so many years.”
Ian’s journey working with MOW was sparked after his parents retired from owning a Chinese restaurant which had provided his introduction into food delivery. He found joining MOW to be a natural transition and a great application of his skill set.
Founded in 1965 as the Home Welfare Association, MOW is committed to delivering nutritious meals to senior citizens, physically challenged and vulnerable members of the Winnipeg Area. Today MOW champions that commitment, delivering between 600-800 meals, weekly to Winnipeg’s homebound citizens.
“I appreciate how it’s universal and accessible to anyone who needs it,” said Ian. “I get a lot of satisfaction from helping people through such a uniquely personal service.”
MOW offered Ian the flexibility to choose his preferred delivery area and continuing with that same route for the last 15 years has helped him develop closer relationships with clients.
“Some clients are shy and prefer to leave a note or cooler outside of their door,” said Ian. “While others are happy to offer driving tips and shortcuts to help make deliveries easier.”
A part of Ian’s role was learning how to interact with clients to ensure they feel respected and comfortable. One client wasn’t fluent in speaking English, so the way he preferred to be notified of delivery was through a cheerful whistle. A sweet signal from Ian, that put him at ease.
While providing nutritious food is an important part of MOW services, the daily visit from volunteers is equally important to clients. For many of them, the volunteer visit is their only contact with another individual and therefore eases the feeling of loneliness.
“I always keep in mind that these are all human beings with unique needs and challenges,” said Ian. “It’s very eye opening to be exposed to clients who have distressing experiences or live in unsafe conditions. It makes me feel grateful for things I have in my life and even more inspired to continue to give back.”
Ian is happy to offer any advice for anyone who is interested in learning more about getting involved with Meals on Wheels and encourages the opportunity to take a drive as a ride along.
#MBLLGoodTogether demonstrates Manitoba Liquor & Lotteries’ (MBLL) commitment to partnering with Manitoba communities, non-profits, and charitable organizations that help make our province an even better place to live. Our Community Champion series highlights MBLL employees that are making a difference in the lives of Manitobans through their work or volunteer efforts in the spirit of being “good together”.