The Kekuli Caf\u00e9 in Merritt has an established tradition of opening its doors to the community on Christmas morning, offering free coffee and food, and this year a second location in Kamloops is taking part.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For the owner of both locations, Merritt resident Elijah Mack-Stirling, the act of community service comes naturally and is a way to bring comfort to others during a time of year that is difficult for so many.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cMy mom has always made a big pot of soup or stew and bannock, and go hand it around the community,\u201d he said. \u201cEspecially to the ones on the streets. It\u2019s very hard to be in that position and be welcomed in an establishment. Mom raised us to go and help people.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
With a group of friends and family members, Mack-Stirling has served roughly 6,000 plates of hot food on Christmas mornings at the Merritt location over the years. The tradition started when Mack-Stirling\u2019s family was sitting around on a quiet, Christmas morning.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“I said, \u2018mom, we should just go and serve the people,'” he said. \u201cWe opened up the restaurant and walked around town inviting people to join us for a meal. We probably served 70 people that morning. \u00a0It became a family tradition. We don\u2019t get ready for Christmas, we get ready for Christmas Day to serve everybody.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Mack-Stirling attempted to offer the same Christmas service at his second, Kamloops location at 300 Columbia Street the same year he purchased it in 2022. But being so new in the community the effort was only moderately successful.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
A series of personal challenges for the family has delayed efforts to open the Kamloops location on Christmas since, but this week, Mack-Stirling is trying it again.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThis year there were more deaths in my family, but I decided I can\u2019t just keep putting it off, this is something we love to do,\u201d he said. \u201cThe Kamloops people need support too.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n