Kamloops group has served more than 100,000 meals to homeless people during pandemic

A group of volunteers in Kamloops will soon be celebrating 555 days in a row of making and distributing meals to the homeless, an estimated 125,000 meals made since they began the project at the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Kamloops COVID Meal Train team has been cooking, packaging and distributing meals for a combined 15 volunteer hours per day, seven days per week since March 28, 2020. 

READ MORE: One year on, the COVID Meal Train stays on track in Kamloops

The founder of the initiative, Glenn Hilke, estimates the team has gone through 24,000 loaves of bread, served 56,000 bowls of oatmeal, handed out 56,000 bottles of water, and made 60,000 peanut butter and jam sandwiches to date.

"In the beginning, before we moved into a central kitchen, community members were preparing food in their homes and bringing them to my porch for the distribution team to pick up," Hilke said. "We've had volunteer drivers, food preppers, sorters and shoppers."

Hilke said roughly 250 volunteers have had a part in the project and the food primarily comes from the Food Bank that has provided on average, 1,000 pounds of food every week, the secondary source coming from donations from the farmers' market in the amount of 12,000 pounds of produce per year.

"This has been an incredible grassroots initiative," Hilke said. "We have received help from the private sector and some organizations, but mostly the project has been driven by the actions and financial donations from individual community members." 

Hilke is marking the 555th day, on Sept. 20, by launching a campaign to raise more money to keep the meal train going.

“It is called the 555 Campaign,” Hilke explained. “For the following 55, days our team of volunteers will be raising funds and collecting donations with a goal of reaching $55,000 dollars. For those without much disposable income, we are asking for a five dollar donation. If people want to help they can do things like car washes or bake sales and choose a financial goal with the number five in it."

For information on how to donate to the 555 Campaign go here.

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