Moms that care – and their kids – helping to feed the hungry during COVID-19

Some local moms staying at home with their families during the COVID-19 outbreak have come up with a way to help the hungry in Vernon.

On the last few Friday’s, Kara Wilhelms and Lindsay Millan have been providing 25 brown bag lunches they’ve made with their children, to people-in-need in the downtown and Polson Park.

When she heard the Upper Room Mission closed due to financial issues last month, Wilhelms, a social service worker, was concerned about vulnerable residents going hungry.

“I thought it would be relatively easy for me to just make some peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, and grab some fruit and granola bars, and distribute them in the downtown core and Polson Park areas.”

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She describes her and Millan, a registered massage therapist, as “two moms that care.”

“I was struggling with this COVID and what’s going to happen, and then I started this. It really changed my perspective. When I’m helping others, I’m not thinking about myself. It’s been awesome for me and my family,” Wilhelms told Vernon Matters.

Wilhelms said they are now working with Turning Points Collaborative Society and the Interior Health primary care clinic to distribute half of the lunches to the clinic and the other half to the Cammy LaFleur Outreach Program (run by Turning Points).

“So it’s kind of grown, and essentially what were doing now is we’ve committed to every Friday at least.”

After putting it out on social media, other families have agreed to make lunches with their kids which Wilhelms picks-up and drops off.

People can donate money to the effort, with about $500 in private donations received so far, to pay for the food.

Wilhelms is hoping to get other volunteers to make lunches which could be used for brown bags on weekends.

The bags contain sandwiches, fruit, a granola bar and water.

“I can make about 25 lunches on about $30 or $40, so for a one-off for someone, it’s not a huge expense.”

Wilhelms does it with her daughter, a good learning experience for youngsters.

“Everybody is so grateful and appreciative. It’s been a really wonderful experience. I’ve only had one person say, like, “Oh, well who made the lunches?’ And then I say ‘I did,” laughed Wilhelms. “Everybody is incredibly grateful and nice, and they say ‘Thank you.'”

If you would like to help out, Wilhelms can be reached at karawilhelms@gmail.com or by calling 250 938 5350.

Lindsay Millan can be reached at linmillan@gmail.com

Wilhelms says there is a gap in services to the homeless during the pandemic.

The Salvation Army’s House of Hope is handing out lunches on weekdays, the Upper Room Mission is giving out brown bag lunches Tuesday and Thursdays, and All Saints Anglican Church on 27th Street has a soup kitchen on Saturdays.