Dear editor,
I want to pay tribute to a group of young people who have, without fanfare or expectation of thanks, volunteered their time and their work to our community — the Food Not Bombs group.
They have been providing a hot lunch in Peace Park for the homeless every Sunday afternoon for years. Sam, Graeme, Gretchen and Jason have very quietly gotten donations from Edible Island and the Cumberland Bakery and put in their own money to make a meal for up to 50 homeless people.
From Monday to Saturday some churches and the Salvation Army provide a meal, but not on Sundays.
Understandably, these young people are now burnt out and the community needs to take over.
The LUSH Valley Food Security non-profit organization is willing to co-ordinate the Sunday food, but they need the community to help. A group that could take over one of the Sundays would help immensely, or individuals could help by making and freezing casseroles, which could be kept at the LUSH Valley building (1126F Piercy Ave. in Courtenay — 250-331-0152).
Perhaps some of the critics of the homeless shelter could offer some productive help by donating their time, money and ideas to LUSH Valley.
In the meantime, kudos to the wonderful Food Not Bombs young people who have made this a more caring community without much help from anyone else.
Gwyn Frayne,
Courtenay