Meet Meals4Health Driver Team Lead, Gerry

Gerry is Driver Team Lead at Meals4Health, a social enterprise of COPE Galway that prepares and delivers fresh, tasty, and affordable meals directly to older people living at home. With a background in operations management and first-hand experience as a family carer, Gerry brings practical know-how and genuine care to his role.   

Before joining the team, Meals4Health had already supported Gerry’s own family.   “My mother and father were customers,” Gerry recalls. “After Dad passed away, I was working full-time and caring for Mam. Having her meals delivered twice a week made a huge difference.”  Gerry is quick to highlight the added benefits of these deliveries:    

When I came home from work, Mam would tell me all the news the driver had shared – traffic, weather, what was happening around town. That visit became a highlight of her day. It was a check-in, a conversation, a familiar face. The regular contact meant she could stay living at home, where she was happiest.”

Gerry now sees first-hand the same impact for hundreds of customers across Galway.  

“You realise how much social connection matters, especially for people living alone or with mobility issues. It’s more than meal-delivery – we’re helping people stay independent and connected.” 

As Driver Team Lead, Gerry keeps deliveries running smoothly and on time, with every delivery completed by 1pm. He coordinates a growing team of 59 volunteer drivers who, in 2024, delivered an impressive 98,954 meals.  

“There are a lot of moving parts, but it’s a well-oiled machine,” Gerry says.    

My job is made easy by the amazing people around me. We’re always tweaking things to make everything run better. Communication is massive – feedback from customers helps us to improve our efficiency and effectiveness.”

Gerry can feel demand for the service growing.  

‘’There are more people availing of Meals4Health services and more volunteers signing up. Our volunteers are drawn to the role as it gives them a chance to get out and meet new people. They feel like they’re giving back. Plus, there is a great atmosphere at Meals4Health, a real buzz.’’  

In 2024 alone, the service supported 385 older people to remain living at home.  

“It’s hard to put a price on that kind of support,” Gerry says. “The regular contact gives families reassurance. Sometimes, if there’s no answer when a driver calls and if we can’t contact the customer, we call the family. It offers dignity, choice and companionship to people who want to stay at home on their own terms.”   

Gerry’s role, supported through Pobal’s Community Services Programme*, reflects the ethos of the Meals4Health social enterprise in delivering a service that promotes social inclusion and equality while creating meaningful employment opportunities.  

The Meals4Health kitchen runs seven days a week, preparing meals not just for home delivery but also supporting lunch clubs and COPE Galway’s Homeless Service, as well as Food Rescue initiatives. It’s a hardworking and committed team – one Gerry is proud to be part of.  

Gerry reflects on why so many of the drivers have told him how much they enjoy the work. 

Enjoying your job is something to be celebrated. You spend most of your year here – why not make it a nice place to be? There’s a real sense of purpose here too,” Gerry says. You know your work is making a difference. And that matters.” 

* Pobal’s Community Services Programme (CSP) supports community-based organisations to provide local social, economic and environmental services through a social enterprise model. CSP provides a funding contribution towards the direct salary costs. Thanks to the support of this programme, Meals4Health has been able to grow its dedicated team and strengthen its ability to serve more communities, while also creating meaningful employment opportunities. Meals4Health contributes towards CSP’s principles to promote social inclusion, equality and to build sustainable communities by enabling older people to remain at home in their community for longer.