Image Credit: CFJC Today

By Adam Donnelly

PIT STOP MEAL PROGRAM

Kamloops meal programs prepare for pandemic Christmas

Nov 23, 2020 | 4:31 PM

KAMLOOPS — With December fast approaching, many non-profit organizations around the city are gearing up for their annual Christmas campaigns. One of those organizations is PIT Stop. The weekly meal program has had to alter the way they deliver meals during the COVID-19 pandemic but has recently added a Monday lunch to their weekly offering. Now, they’re reaching out to the public for a little help to make sure Christmas is merry for everyone they serve throughout the rest of the year.

2020 has been a strange year for many organizations, including for the PIT Stop Meal Program that runs out of the Kamloops United Church. However, Rick Windjack and his crew of volunteers has transitioned from a sit-down supper to a take-out meal program.

“Unfortunately we’re missing some things we had in the past,” PIT Stop Program Coordinator Rick Windjack says. “Like social engagement and the opportunity to do a little bit of visiting. Come into a warm room in the wintertime, or an air-conditioned room in the summer. Those kinds of things are really missed.”

However, Windjack is happy that the program has not only been able to continue serving meals on Sundays. They’ve actually expanded the program to Mondays, thanks to a partnership with another organization that helps those in need.

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“We’ve collaborated with another group in town called Kamloops Reach,” Windjack says. “Our friend Lynne and her group of volunteers are doing the Monday meal. It too is hot, but they’re always including a sandwich or a bunch of other snacks and treats in the bag.”

“Well, this is only our fourth week,” Kamloops Reach President Lynne Borlé tells CFJC Today. “The first week we had 40 people, the second week 60. Last week we had 74, I think. We’re hoping for 80 today.”

The Reach had been doing their own outreach program to bring meals to folks experiencing homelessness. However, the pandemic has made it more difficult to find folks who need the meals.

“With COVID, we’re not finding as many people as we used to find,” Borlé says. “So we decided to team up with PIT Stop and put on a Monday lunch. The reason for that is because the Mustard Seed is closed on Mondays so there’s nothing to eat downtown.”

Along with expanding their regular meal program PIT Stop is preparing for their annual Christmas Dinner on December 13th. They’re asking the community for donations for that event.

“A lot of the items are necessary items, items that people certainly need,” Windjack explains. “Gloves and warm socks and those types of things. We also like to include items that are appreciated, that they might not normally get. Some treats and some fun things that people of all kinds appreciate.”

A full list of items PIT Stop is hoping to include in their Christmas gift bags can be found at www.kamloopsunited.ca, and any donations can be dropped off at the main entrance of the church.