As the province slowly starts to get out from the shadow of COVID-19, some people still don't feel comfortable venturing out to grocery stores quite yet, especially if they live in rural locations where self-isolation can be easier, as long as you have adequate supply lines.

The Red Deer and District Family and Community Support Services (RDFCSS) and Red Deer County want to help those rural residents stay hunkered down, by offering a rural frozen meal delivery program with free shipping; you just pay the cost of the meals.

With the option of weekly individual or family meals being delivered, Community Services Coordinator for Red Deer County Lindsay Thompson says this helps out people who may live too far out of town to simply order a pizza. 

“We know that in a rural setting, there aren’t as many delivery or supportive options that way, and so we wanted to make it a little bit easier for people who have to stay home during this time, whether it’s because they are a senior or immunocompromised, or just want to stay at home right now.”

Thompson says this service is open to anyone who wants to take advantage of it.

“There’s also people who just don’t feel comfortable leaving home right now, and we want to support them in that. You don’t have to have any direct ties to someone who’s been infected or anything like that, it’s more of a preventative thing so people don’t have to travel to go and get the food that they need.”

RDFCSS's Rural Frozen Meal Delivery Program serves residents of Red Deer County, as well as the Town of Bowden, the Village of Delburne, the Village of Elnora and the Town of Penhold.

“The program fills an important need in rural communities where meal delivery is not always an easy option. Interested individuals fill out and submit an application form about their delivery. Applications are reviewed to determine address, phone number, and any special instructions about the delivery. Staff will then contact the individual to notify them that the delivery will be arriving.” Red Deer County Community Services Manager Jo-Ann Symington.

The meals are prepared by the Golden Circle out of Red Deer, and Divine Catering out of Penhold, and are commercially prepared and follow the Canada Food Guide.

Currently, they have moved around some of their County staff to make the no-contact deliveries, but as the popularity of this program grows, so does their need for volunteers.

For more information, you can contact Red Deer Community Services at 403-350-2150, or click here to visit rdcounty.ca under the COVID-19 link.under the COVID-19 link.