Staff who deliver meals to hundreds of vulnerable elderly people in Caerphilly say the Meals Direct service is a lifeline to those who rely on it.
Workers have told UNISON many of the 304 pensioners who receive meals through the service are unable to cook for themselves and, in some cases, have no relatives or contact outside of their homes.
Caerphilly County Borough Council is currently carrying out a consultation on a proposal to end the Meals Direct service as the local authority looks to make savings of £45m.
A Meals Direct employee said: “These are important meals for all our clients. We don’t just deliver the meals, we also help them out when they have problems and if they have fallen.
“We phone the family for them and wait for their family to arrive. We are not just dinner ladies, we are also friends with our clients.”
Another said: “It is a vital service for the elderly and the vulnerable, most have to eat the meal when we deliver it as they have no relatives to help them.
“Also, we may be the only contact they have to talk to or assist if they have a fall or need medical assistance.
“If Meals Direct closed, I wonder how some of the clients would survive and how they would manage on their own with meals.”
Staff who provide the Meals Direct service also said their own livelihoods would be threatened if it were to close.
One of those who delivers meals through the service said: “This job is my livelihood and I need it to pay the bills. I also love my job and the customers who really need their meals.
“Financially, I would not be able to pay my bills if I was out of a job.”
UNISON is holding demonstrations against the proposals to close Meals Direct which will take place on Tuesday September 24 at 5pm and Wednesday September 25 at 1.30pm outside the Caerphilly County Borough Council offices at Ty Penallta, Tredomen Park, Ystrad Mynach.
An online consultation on the proposal is available here and ends on Tuesday September 10.
More than 500 people have already signed a petition against the closure of Meals Direct which is available here.
