A special program that helps the Alberni Valley’s less fortunate is heading indoors until spring.
Kuu-us Crisis Service is set to run its ‘Saturday Night Outreach’ indoors starting Feb. 1, director Elia Nicholson-Nave said.
The program will run at Echo Centre from 5:30-7 p.m. on Feb. 1 and March 1, 8 and 15. It will also run at the same time at Echo Field House on Feb. 8, 15, 22 and also on March 22 and 29.
Kuu-us volunteers expect to distribute food hampers as well as personal necessities to more than 50 people at the locations.
“Being inside gives a social inclusion part to the program and helps bring people together,” Nicholson-Nave said. “And people don’t suddenly go un-hungry on weekends, so we try and fill that gap.”
The eight-year-old program used to operate outdoors exclusively. But two years ago the city granted use of its two facilities to give people a warm, central place inside to get a hot meal and cup of coffee.
The move attracted a different clientele, Nicholson-Nave said. “More people with children started showing up.”
The hampers are made possible with donations made at the Kuu-us boxes at local grocery stores, she said.
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