By Chad Klassen

Homeless appreciate family-style meal on Easter Monday

Apr 2, 2018 | 5:24 PM

KAMLOOPS — Leonard Seigo knows full-well the value of a wholesome meal like Easter dinner with all the fixings. 

“This being a balanced meal is very rare for street people,” he said. “You get a soup and sandwich and that’s about it once a day.”

Seigo said the Easter meal, including leftovers, can last the homeless up to a couple days. He said this means more than anyone can ever imagine. 

“We’re eating bread and peanut butter, we’re eating whatever we can lay our hands on, and that’s just not balanced. That’s not good for the health, not good for the mind, and for a lot of people this is how we live.”

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About 300 people came through for the annual new life community easter meal – indulging in turkey, stuffing, mash potatoes, and more – the usual fixings you’d find at a family dinner. 

“I love doing these kinds of dinners,” said New Life outreach worker Jeff Arlitt. “It brings a lot of people in here, a lot of them don’t have families to go to. That’s what we’re here for, just to be family and to provide that meal and love for them during this time.”

The meals are thanks to the generosity of people in Kamloops who donate money, food, and in the case of these volunteers their time to make life better for others, even for just an afternoon. That community effort doesn’t go unnoticed by people like Seigo, who appreciates everything provided. 

“The generosity of people in the community, and their participation, has helped so many people and it’ll continue to help people,” said Seigo. “For each meal you get, there’s a whole new level of thank you.”