Meal service dropped for seniors in rural areas around Moncton
Pilot project that delivered meals to seniors in outlying areas ends after 2 years
Earlier this month, Joan McMackin received a note with the meal that was delivered to her door as usual.
"Reminder: Please note this is your last meal delivery," the note said.
For about a year, the 87-year-old widow in Petitcodiac received five meals a week from the United Way seniors' meal program.
For several years, the United Way Centraid, which serves Greater Moncton and Southeastern New Brunswick, has offered a meal delivery service for seniors in Moncton, Dieppe and Riverview.
Two years ago with the help of a federal grant, the service expanded to include surrounding rural communities. The grant was to last two years only.
No explanation from United Way
Now the two years are up, and Brent McMackin, Joan's son, is saddened by the news his mother won't be able to receive well-balanced meals throughout the week.
"You could almost say it was life-changing, you know, because it made it so easy," said McMackin, who is semi-retired.
United Way declined an interview request and just confirmed in a statement that the pilot project was over.
"We recognize the ongoing need in outlying communities and are actively exploring new funding opportunities to expand the service area in the future."
According to a social media post from January 2025, the United Way in Moncton was delivering about 3,000 meals a week, offering five to 10 meals a week to each recipient in need. It wasn't clear how many of the recipients lived in rural areas.
McMackin and his mother both live in Petitcodiac, about 40 kilometres from Moncton. The prepared and frozen meals were delivered from Moncton to Joan's home once a week.
Joan is unable to cook for herself consistently throughout the week. While her son checks in on her everyday, it becomes challenging to make and deliver meals to her on a regular basis.
McMackin's late father-in-law was also a recipient of the meal delivery service. For him, it was even more essential because, as a widower and a senior with limited physical capabilities, he was unable to prepare his own food.
"As for a lot of senior individuals, it's difficult for them to prepare and to pay for a balanced diet,"
McMackin said.
The meals that Joan received cost her up to $2 each, her son said. For seniors needing affordable meal services, the program was an excellent option, he said.
The notice United Way sent to recipients said that all seniors receiving the meals would be added to the waiting list for the provincial seniors' meal program.
Seniors in rural areas lack access
Without the program to serve meals to seniors in rural areas, more seniors could end up in hospital, said sociologist Katharine Dunbar of Mount Allison University, who focuses on health inequities
Dunbar said that meal delivery services are essential to rural communities because they maintain the health and well-being of older residents.
Since rural areas have less access to health services, ensuring nutritious and consistent meals for them is a part of keeping them healthy.
Dunbar speculated that the United Way simply couldn't keep up with the demand.
"Community organizations and community services tend to sort of work to fill those gaps that are left as a result of not having adequate funding through the provincial or territorial government," Dunbar said.
"There's fewer organizations working in rural areas. And so what you often find is that one organization is providing a whole variety of services to members of the community."
Without the meal service reaching rural communities like Peticodiac, McMackin hopes to find a permanent solution for his mother.
"I think it was a valuable program," he said. "And it can be provided at a reasonable cost. And I think that's probably already been proven that it should continue."
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