At ASK Wellness Society, we believe that access to food and a place to relax and stay cool is a fundamental right. It is with great excitement that we share this update about the launch week of our temporary meal program at 433 Tranquille Road, a dedicated initiative designed to support and nourish community members.
The temporary meal program is more than simply a food service. It is a commitment to the well-being of our community. With the increase of food insecurity, we recognized the urgent need to provide consistent meals to those who need them most. Our goal is to ensure that everyone in our community has access to food, while fostering a supportive and inclusive environment. We also offer nursing care during the temporary meal program hours. Working within their scope of practice, our nursing staff are available to provide basic health check-ups, offer medical advice, and ensure that our community members have access to the care they need.
We are delighted to have Trey Schell, the head chef at Spero House, leading our temporary meal program. Trey joined ASK Wellness Society in 2019 and he finds immense fulfillment in helping others, believing that nutrition is a key component in getting back on track to wellness. His dedication and expertise ensure that each meal is not only nutritious but also delicious!
The temporary meal program is open to all community members facing food insecurity. This program was put in place as a modest response to fill the gaps in services in Kamloops, as two of Kamloops’s day programs are shutting down. This week, beginning this past Monday, July 15th, showcased a successful launch week! The meal service will continue to operate from Monday to Friday, 10:00am to 12:00pm, and the cooling station and health checks will stay open until 4:30pm, as needed. The program is intended to be in operation until October 15th, at which time there is hope that community partners will collaborate to find a longer-term solution to the lack of day space programming in Kamloops.
Bob Hughes, Executive Officer of ASK Wellness Society, emphasizes the importance of community support in such initiatives, stating, "This is a modest effort made in response to a humanitarian crisis, and we are committed to ensuring the safety and well-being of our community's most vulnerable members. We appreciate the support of our community partners, including the City of Kamloops and North Shore Business Improvement Association (NSBIA)."
We want to extend our heartfelt thanks to all the ASK Wellness Society staff who helped make the first week of our temporary meal program run smoothly. Their hard work and dedication ensured that everything went off without a hitch. More importantly, they were there to offer support, lend a listening ear, and provide a welcoming environment for everyone who came through for a bite to eat or something to drink. We look forward to seeing everyone back next week for food to share and nursing care!
