Carterton Salvation Army administrator Marie Svenson said the agency made its own meals fresh in Carterton's High St and delivered them throughout Masterton, Carterton and Greytown.
As a private operator, the "streamlining" of hospital food services would not affect the Salvation Army's Meals on Wheels programme.
"We're going to carry on as we are," she said.
Customers are charged $11.50 for a hot "meat and three vegetables" meal with a dessert, and $9 without dessert. Frozen "easy meals" are also available.
Around 50 to 70 meals are made daily, Ms Svenson said.
"Some people have it five days a week, some people have it three days a week."
The meals are available for anybody, "you don't have to meet a certain criteria".
Meanwhile, thousands of vulnerable Kiwi pensioners receiving hot lunches through Meals on Wheels will be hit by Government plans to outsource hospital food services, Labour health spokeswoman Annette King said.
The plan has been drawn up by Health Benefits Limited, a Government-owned organisation set up to find savings by reducing duplication and administration costs.
Health Minister Tony Ryall confirmed there would be staffing cuts, but declined to say how many. Closing or downsizing some of the 39 hospital kitchens operated by 20 district health boards hasn't been ruled out.
However, Mr Ryall stressed the quality of meals provided to patients would be paramount and not compromised by the changes.
Nationally agreed diets and nutrition standards would be incorporated into the plan.
Ms King said the 1.2 million Meals on Wheels provided annually would be "prepped, plated, chilled, frozen and stored" at the two sites before being transported to regional hubs then sent on to hospitals for re-heating, and delivered to clients. Some meals would still be made on-site.
"Meals on Wheels provides lunches to some of our most vulnerable and most isolated older people," Ms King said.
"There are already concerns that recipients are not receiving standard information about re-heating, freezing and defrosting. Transporting these frozen, pre-packaged meals halfway across the country before they are finally delivered raises even more questions about quality and safety."
Meals on Wheels currently costs clients from between $5 and $8, Ms King said.
The average cost of preparing a meal is expected to drop under the plans. However rather than passing savings on to clients, the money would go towards other health services, Ms King said.
"Mr Ryall needs to fully explain how this proposal will reduce the cost and improve the quality of food for those who receive and pay for it."
Health Benefits is looking to sign a 15-year contract, with the preferred provider believed to be UK-based Compass Group, which Ms King told Parliament was linked to the recent European horse meat scandal. APNZ
