Meals on Wheels officially broke ground at its new permanent home after years of searching for a suitable location.
An official ceremony featuring a golden spade took place on 6 June at Industrial Park, George Town, where the charity’s 2,000 square foot facility will be built.
It will feature a kitchen, pantry, vegetable garden, administrative offices and a multipurpose room for community outreach and recreational use.
The non-profit, which provides hot meals to the elderly, disabled and other housebound individuals, secured the site after several years of temporary bases.
In the press release on 9 June, Jennifer West, Meals on Wheels Cayman Islands chief executive officer, said the groundbreaking marks the beginning of a new chapter.
She described it as one filled with “purpose, promise and people coming together to serve our community”.
“For 28 years, Meals on Wheels has been a vital source of nourishment and connection for our seniors,” she said.
“We’ve operated from borrowed spaces, humble offices, and overflowing kitchens – always with love, but not always with room to grow.”
Minister for Social Development, Innovation, Youth, Sports, Culture and Heritage Isaac Rankine, who attended the event, praised the longstanding impact of Meals on Wheels.
“Meals on Wheels represents the heart of our community. Their work goes far beyond food delivery – it’s about care, connection, and dignity,” he said.
“This new facility will help ensure that our seniors continue to receive the support they deserve, with even greater reach and efficiency.”
Other guests at the groundbreaking included deputy premier and tourism and trade minister Gary Rutty, Heather Bodden, parliamentary secretary for social development, and Paulinda Mendoza-Williams, director of the Department of Children and Family Services.
The group estimates the facility will take around eight months to build.
Meals on Wheels Cayman Islands was founded in 1997 and now delivers more than 85,000 hot meals a year.
