Meals on wheels recipients will get to meet some of their favourite rugby players now the Highlanders have stepped up to help.
Recently Highlanders players Josh Dickson and Josh McKay delivered meals on wheels with the help of Highlanders marketing manager Amelia Kininmonth.
Ms Kininmonth said each year the team took on initiatives to give back to the community and this year it teamed up with Age Concern Otago to play its part in helping to deliver more than 2000 hot meals a month to clients across Dunedin.
Players would deliver meals once a month for the rest of the year, she said.
The team took on the initiative to increase awareness of Age Concern Otago’s meals on wheels service, as well as play a part in its community.
‘‘This is part of our way to help out and if we can make people smile then that’s great,’’ she said.
This year, the Highlanders also had a partnership with the Dunedin Wildlife Hospital and ran a literacy programme in six low-decile schools in term 1.
‘‘We identified [Age Concern Otago] meals on wheels as the organisation we wanted to get involved in early on,’’ she said.
‘‘In previous years we have performed over 1000 hours of community service around the community, but this year we have a more structural approach.
‘‘It’s nice to have specific organisations to be helping.’’
Player Josh McKay did not expect to be delivering meals on wheels when he made the Highlanders team this year.
‘‘I’m not complaining, though,’’ McKay said.
‘‘It’s awesome.’’
Meals on wheels recipient Kristine Galer said it was an honour to have the players delivering her meal to her.
If it happened more often she ‘‘would have to really get dressed up’’, she said.
Age Concern Otago has more than 350 volunteers, as well as several groups and clubs that help with deliveries.
Meals on wheels co-ordinator Fiona McMillan said the team’s help would make a difference for the organisation.
‘‘It’s their way of giving back to the community,’’ she said.
‘‘Any extra help is amazing — we need volunteers.’’