Image Credit: CFJC Today / Kent Simmonds
COVID-19

Salvation Army mobilizes food truck to provide meals during pandemic

Apr 15, 2020 | 4:58 PM

KAMLOOPS — In times of crisis, the Salvation Army works to clothe, feed and support those in need.

Today (April 15), the agency sent its food truck to Valleyview to support an underserved neighbourhood.

The Salvation Army contacted the owner of the Motel 6 to gauge the need in Valleyview and he offered up his parking lot for the food truck.

The Salvation Army was providing meals between 11:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m. and hopes to make it a weekly occurrence.

“It’s for anyone who is in need of anything right now,” said Captain Kelly Fifield of the Kamloops Salvation Army. “We recognize that it’s hard for some people to get out and we also recognize that there aren’t as many services in Valleyview as there are in other parts of the city. We want to make sure we’re meeting those gaps and we can come and meet people where they are.”

The Salvation Army relies on donations to fund programs like its food truck service.

Roger Dhesa, owner and manager of the Motel 6, said the motel would chip in to help in a variety of ways.

“We’ll be donating money, our land, property, time, any supplies we can help with, any support, anything,” he said.

The Salvation Army has also been in communication with the Ministry of Transportation about bringing the food truck up to the weigh scales one day per week.

“We’re hoping that my next week all those permits will be in place for us to do that, but they are excited and on board to have us come up there and be able to support in that way as well,” Fifield said. “We recognize there’s a lot of people coming through this town and there aren’t as many places for people to be able to stop and get those basic necessities.”