Image Credit: CFJC Today

By Adam Donnelly

FEEDING THE HUNGRY

ASK Wellness meal program helps fill the gap for people experiencing homelessness

Jul 25, 2024 | 6:00 PM

KAMLOOPS — Chef Trey Schell’s day starts at 6:00 a.m. in his little kitchen in the back of Spero House. The first order of business, even before breakfast service, is making 40 lunch items for the new ASK Wellness meal program.

“I’ve been working out of Spero [House] for going on six years,” Chef Trey tells CFJC News, “to further my reach and help those in need in the community. I really like that. It’s a great feeling.”

The meal program started because of a hole left by the upcoming closure of The Loop on Tranquille Road and the closure of the Mustard Seed’s drop-in day room.

“I was kind of worried for all the people that were getting services [at The Loop],” Schell says. “You have a whole group of people who aren’t going to have a meal. They’re not going to be able to get the services they were able to get.”

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The folks at ASK Wellness decided to fill that hole, and Chef Trey was just the guy to step up and make it happen.

“I just have to stand back sometimes and watch these guys work their magic,” ASK Wellness CEO Bob Hughes explains. “In this case, that’s an example of Trey and his team saying, ‘You tell us what we need. If there’s a need in this community, we are there 100 per cent.’ Same thing with our outreach team.”

In the three weeks it’s been operating, the service has been well received by the community.

“I’ve been here just about every day since it started,” Ray Lahola says.

Lahola says for folks who experience addiction, necessities like a meal can get overlooked.

“Handing out food is a good thing for people who have other things more important to do than eat,” Lahola says.

For Hughes, the upcoming loss of an organization like The Loop, which is slated to close on July 31st, leaves a huge gap in services for the vulnerable people of the North Shore.

“As much as people can challenge some of the things that happened there, at the end of the day that provision is irreplaceable,” Hughes says. “Our little part here is just a small step to provide some humanity and dignity to people who don’t have housing.”

ASK Wellness expects demand to increase as word about the meal program spreads. If that happens, Chef Trey intends to be there to help fulfill that need.

Chef Trey Schell prepares 40 lunches for the ASK Wellness meal program each morning {Image Credit; CFJC Today)

“We are predicting, as word of mouth gets out there, [demand] could double. It could triple,” Schell says. “I’ll be there to meet the demands. I can handle anything they throw at me.”