Food and friendship: Upper Miramichi community meals program celebrates 2 years

Program serves about 10% of the area’s population each month

When the COVID-era Meals on Wheels program ended, residents in the Upper Miramichi area were left without a vital service which had brought nourishment and connection during challenging times.

Becky Matchett recognized this gap and began exploring ways to bring people together over a shared meal. The result? A grassroots initiative which has grown into a cornerstone of community life.

What started as a simple concept — one meal a month, open to everyone — has grown into a thriving program which is now in its third year.

“We wanted to avoid restrictions,” said Matchett, Horizon’s Community Developer for Central New Brunswick. “Many meal programs focus on older adults, but we wanted something inclusive.”

After six months of planning and a community survey that showed overwhelming support, the first meal was served on Oct. 18, 2023. Today, Upper Miramichi Community Meals serves an average of 200 to 250 meals each month — around 10 per cent of the area’s population.

More than a meal

While addressing food insecurity was the first goal, the program has become much more. It is a social hub and a resource-sharing opportunity.

Horizon staff and partners use the gatherings to connect residents with health services, transportation options, and other supports.

“People have become so comfortable that they will approach me for help accessing resources,” Matchett explained. “This program has deeply influenced my career — being embedded in the community, meeting people where they are, and connecting in a casual setting allows me to support them far more fully than I could in a clinical context. That trust is everything.”

The Upper Miramichi Lions Club in Boiestown hosts the program in its accessible facility and took ownership of the initiative after the first year.

Debbie Stewart is a member of the Lions Club and one of the initiative’s four founding members. She said hosting an event like this is an honour.

“To become a part of a movement supporting rural New Brunswick, to keep people connected face-to-face and share so much more than a meal, it’s the best feeling ever,” said Stewart. “It’s been a tonne of hard work to do these meals every month, but after a few months, it became a routine.”

Funding from Horizon helped the community access the necessary food safety training to make the program possible.

Pauline Merrill is one of around two dozen volunteers who dedicate two full days each month to prep, cooking, and serving the meals. She sees this as a vital initiative for all community members, particularly seniors.

“Being in a rural community, we don’t always have the opportunity for seniors to socialize as much as they would like,” she said. “Many are looking forward from one meal to the next, inquiring about what is on the menu for the next month.”

Delivery options ensure that seniors and residents without transportation are not left out.

“In rural communities, transportation is a huge concern,” said Matchett. “We wanted to remove as many barriers as possible.”

Sustainable and inclusive

Meals cost $5 with donations and occasional grants helping to keep the program sustainable each month.

“Our goal is to break even,” Matchett noted. “Extra donations allow us to cover meals for those who may need a little support.”

The program’s success lies in its focus on kindness, equity and inclusion — values that resonate deeply in a region where opportunities for connection can be hard to come by.

After a short break over the holidays, the program resumed in January, continuing its mission to nourish both body and spirit.

“We could not end this if we tried,” Matchett said with a laugh. “It has become something the community treasures.”

Matchett is part of a team of Community Developers who work within communities across New Brunswick. Visit Horizon’s Community Development page to learn more about the program and get in touch with the community developer in your area.