COQUITLAM, B.C., April 9, 2021 – Coquitlam’s pandemic-support meal program for seniors has received a boost from a new corporate sponsor.
The BC Responsible and Problem Gambling Program has signed on as the supporting partner from Apr. 12 to 23 for the City’s Meals for Seniors frozen meal delivery and pickup program.
Launched in spring 2020, Meals for Seniors has provided more than 20,000 meals to isolated older residents who need to stay home to protect their health and who have lost the ability to enjoy meals at the City’s 50+ Pavilions due to the pandemic.
Supporting People through Challenging Times
The $2,000 donation from The BC Responsible and Problem Gambling Program will help offset the City’s costs for Meals for Seniors, currently covered through Coquitlam’s COVID-19 Community Support and Recovery Plan (CSRP). The partner is also providing reusable shopping bags to be distributed to Meals for Seniors clients with their sponsored meals.
The sponsorship was arranged through Coquitlam’s Corporate Partners program, which provides revenue for City services while giving businesses and organizations a chance to give back to the community, utilize marketing benefits and connect with a new or target audience. During the pandemic, the Corporate Partners program is providing customized opportunities suited to current programs and services.
The BC Responsible and Problem Gambling Program is provided locally by Ly Nguyen, Adrienne Cossom, Heidi Furrer and Margaret Sigsworth. As members of Coquitlam’s community, Ly, Adrienne, Heidi and Margaret are honoured to contribute and to be in service to build a happier and healthier city.
Providing Meals for Thousands of Residents
The community has embraced Meals for Seniors, created to help keep older residents healthy and safe during the pandemic. Each week, the program prepares about 400 healthy frozen meals in the kitchens of the Dogwood and Glen Pine Pavilions, the hubs for the City’s 50+ services.
The City subsidizes the program through its CSRP to keep costs down for clients. The complete dinner-sized meals (frozen) are provided on Tuesdays and Fridays for either delivery or contactless pickup, with two new menu features each week along with limited quantities of other meal options for $7.50 per meal.
The Friday pickup clients also have the opportunity to add fresh-baked scones or muffins to their orders, an option not available with home delivery.
For information, contact 604-927-4386 or visit www.coquitlam.ca/meals. Meals can be ordered either online through an order link at www.coquitlam.ca/meals (or directly through www.coquitlam.ca/registration), or by phone at 604-927-4386 – registration hours are provided online.
Those interested can sign up for biweekly Meals for Seniors email updates, as well as Pavilion News, through www.coquitlam.ca/notifyme.
About the BC Responsible and Problem Gambling Program
The BC Responsible and Problem Gambling Program supports free and confidential counselling services for all residents in our province. Did you know that 73% of the population in BC engage in at least one form of gambling activity? Gambling can be a form of entertainment for many people staying home and with more time on their hands due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but it can also become a problematic way to escape from daily stressors. For more information you can visit www.bcresponsiblegambling.ca.
Ly Nguyen, Adrienne Cossom, Heidi Furrer and Margaret Sigsworth are Prevention and Community Engagement Providers who provide free educational workshops, outreach support and clinical counselling to all residents in Coquitlam thanks to the BC Responsible and Problem Gambling Program.
About the Corporate Partners Program
Launched in 2014, Coquitlam's Corporate Partners program builds relationships with the business community and provides revenue to enhance City events, programs and services. Benefits for corporate partners include positive relationships with the community, direct public exposure, a variety of marketing and engagement opportunities, as well as recognition in print and online. Packages are customized to meet the partner’s needs and available current program and service offerings.
For information, visit www.coquitlam.ca/corporatepartners or contact 604-927-3587 or corporatepartners@coquitlam.ca.
Media contact:
Chris Siddaway
Community Partnerships and Policies Manager
City of Coquitlam
604-927-3556
csiddaway@coquitlam.ca