Ingrid Meyer, founder of the local Share-A-Meal campaign, wants to remind area residents that donations made this month will help less fortunate friends and neighbours have a special meal during the yuletide season.
Meyer started the campaign in December 2013 after learning there was a need to provide meals to folks who couldn’t otherwise afford it.
“I learned from Heidi Read from Higher Ground Natural Foods, who was gathering money to feed kids at 100 Mile House Elementary School, and from the Foot Safe Committee meetings at the Cariboo Family Enrichment Centre (CFEC). This is the where I first learned there was such a need for food in our community.”
So, she jumped into action and had posters and coupon books made and distributed to the local restaurants that wanted to be part of the Share-A-Meal campaign.
The participating restaurants – Hungry Bear in Lac La Hache, Cindy's Cookery in the 108 Mall, El Caballo, Smitty's, Blue Sky, Smilies, Chartreuse Moose, The Bicycle Tree, BJ's Donuts & Eatery, Firehouse Diner and Canadian 2 for 1 Pizza – have Share-A-Meal displays on the counters near their cash registers.
“A customer from the restaurant can add whatever amount he or she wants to a to the bill – $5, $10, $15 or whatever they want – and then the waitress fills out a coupon with the amount of the donated amount.”
Meyer says the coupons are numbered, and she will take them to the different local facilities dealing with clients in need, including CFEC, the Canadian Mental Health-South Cariboo (especially the homeless outreach program), Loaves and Fishes Outreach, Axis Family Resources, Horton Ventures and the 100 Mile House & District Women’s Centre.
These groups then give the coupons to their clients, so they can go into the participating restaurants to have a meal, she explains.
“I have had quite a lot of feedback that they couldn’t go out on Mother’s Day or Father’s Day, so they really appreciated getting these coupons.
“Now, the coupons are also going to be in the CFEC’s Touch of Christmas food hampers.”
Noting the Share-A-Meal campaign has become a big part in our community, Meyer says it runs all year long, but it is very important in the winter months.
In this past two years, the campaign has raised more than $9,000.
