PIT Stop Coordinator’s message:
“On March 8, 2020, PIT Stop started a huge change in our program because of COVID. We went to a strictly ‘take away’ dinner and the first team to do this was the Aberdeen Lions Club led by Jack Popoff. I remember it well. I also remember the following Sunday – March 15, when a brand new team – 100 Women Who Care – led by Maryanne Bower, did the second ‘take away’ only meal. Adam Donnelly came by and did an article for CFJC TV on how we were adapting to this change in format brought on by this ‘temporary’ world crisis. Maryanne aced the interview and every one of us – every one of us – thought that it would be a short term change.
Today, March 13, 2022, we did (what we hope will be) our last ‘take away’ meal at PIT Stop. Two Years!
The wonderful team from Rotary West, led by the equally wonderful Greg Nalleweg, cooked up a fabulous roast pork and roast potato and veg offering and over 250 meals were passed out. We are extremely grateful to Greg and the entire crew for this day.
We are also extremely grateful to the hundreds and hundreds of volunteers who have gotten us through this last two years. Lots of improvising, lots of MacGyvering, lots of sadness, but always lots of caring, lots of love! There are not many words for what you guys have done.
Next Sunday, March 20, we will be doing our first ‘dine in’ dinner in two years. Are we nervous? A bit. Are we excited? A lot. But, we have an absolute Dream Team of volunteers who will get us through it. All the stuff that I’ve forgotten – they will get it covered. And today, every single guest that I told that next week was back to a sit down dinner, were thrilled. We have missed this a lot folks.
Thank you everyone for your undying support. Thank you Kamloops United Church for not letting this program fail. Thank you Kamloops Food Bank who we absolutely could not have made this work without. Thank you United Way British Columbia – ditto. Thank you to everyone who donated take away containers, money, food, pat on the back, and everything else that we really, really needed.
Stay tuned. More to come next week!!”
Posted by PIT Stop Coordinator, Rick on the PIT Stop Facebook page (along with some great photos of today’s team).