Image Credit: Adam Donnelly
FOOD SECURITY

Farm2Chefs donates $10,000 raised from grazing event to PIT Stop Program

Nov 7, 2022 | 4:12 PM

KAMLOOPS — When you run a meal program that relies on the generosity of the community and volunteers, an extra $10,000 goes a long way.

“It’s going to give us a choice,” Tomas Bijok, PIT Stop Program Coordinator, explains. “We can actually use high quality food for our guests, and not always depend on what’s left over.”

PIT Stop makes meals for hundreds of folks in the community who experience food insecurity. Thanks to a generous donation from the Farm2Chefs Local Food Collaborative, they can ensure the best for those guests.

“Everyone deserves to have a good meal, everyone deserves to be warm,” Bijok says. “We’re just a tiny piece of that puzzle of helping people in need in our community.”

Farm2Chefs held its 10th annual Grazing Event back in July. Each year, they pick a local food-related charity as the recipient of the Farm2Chefs grant. This year, that honour belonged to PIT Stop.

“I think it’s critical for people to be able to access healthy, nutritious meals and that’s what they’re able to do here,” Jared Summers, Farm2Chefs president tells CFJC Today. “The work that they do is unbelievable. We’re able to just be a small piece that helps out a bit, and that’s immensely rewarding for us.”

Each year, PIT Stop hosts a huge Christmas dinner that will serve upwards of 300 people. The program partners with Daybreak Kamloops Rotary each year for food and other special holiday treats.“

“I think we have about thirty turkeys that they have provided, that we’re going to be cooking for our guests,” Bijok says. “We’re going to be doing gift bags, with chocolates and all sorts of things, just to give that Christmas cheer for our guests.”

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