(Image Credit: CFJC News/Sydney Chisholm)

By Sydney Chisholm

Kamloops Volunteer Appreciation BBQ

Barbecue celebrates Kamloops’ many selfless volunteers

Apr 21, 2023 | 5:36 PM

KAMLOOPS – The 11th Annual Kamloops Volunteer Appreciation Barbeque was held Friday (April 21).

Volunteers from all over the city came out for burgers, hot dogs and elbow rub with the city’s council and mayor.

Barb Lundstrom makes sure everyone has enough to eat, even at an event meant to celebrate the work she and many others do in our community.

“I think my biggest passion is food recovery. Food recovery, food security and food sharing. Because that’s the basis of life besides water — food,” she said.

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The last 15 years of Barb’s life have been spent volunteering for many different organizations including working in the kitchen at ASK Wellness and giving a helping hand down at the food bank.

“We are expressing our gratitude to many volunteers who make Kamloops such a wonderful place to live,” said Kamloops councillor Margot Middleton. “The hours and dedication of these volunteers make our city shine every day. We could not do it without them,”

Members of the Kamloops Brock Central Lions Club grilled up burgers and hot dogs for the group while members of city council manned the condiments and made the rounds thanking the attendees for their hard work.

“That’s what makes everything work, you know? All the volunteers is just unbelievable the support we get from the volunteers in Kamloops,” said Mayor Reid Hamer-Jackson. “For all the events, emergencies all that stuff, you know it’s just so important. This is the least we could do to appreciate them.”

Much of the group was an older crowd who have retired and now spend their time giving back.

One newer addition to the Westsyde Community Development Society is hoping to continue their legacy.

“I’m sort of the next generation, trying to come in and sort of extend this development society so we can keep going with lots of events for years to come,” said Elisa Houchen.

For volunteers like Barb, helping meet others’ needs, helps meet hers as well.

“It gives me a purpose, I think that’s the best word to describe it, it gives me a purpose, in life,” Barb said. “It gets me out of the house, out of the bed and going somewhere to do something.”