Although Salvation Army Capt. Neil Wilkinson believes, "nobody needs to go hungry in Prince George," the reality is that many do.
This is why every Saturday and Sunday, the Salvation Army's Operation Hunger Relief van sets up shop in the parking lot of the Prince George Child Development Centre at 3 p.m. to pass out a warm meal.
This is a practice the charity has been engaged in for at least seven years and "we'll keep doing it as long as there's people who need us," Wilkinson said.
While that need may fluctuate based on the weather and when social support cheques are handed out, it's always there.
During Saturday's snow, Wilkinson said eight people were served, but that number jumped to more than 20 during the sunny Sunday afternoon.
Wilkinson kept his trademark sunny disposition as he worked predominately on his own to feed the group out of the back of the van, which included seniors, parents and a group of young children, lined up for food Sunday. Those in line received vegetable beef soup, apples, vegetable sticks, cheese buns, baked treats and coffee, tea and juice.
Typically, there are three or four volunteers who help Salvation Army staff pass out the lunch over the half hour to a group which can number up to 80.
Wilkinson said the most common feedback he and the volunteers receive is gratitude, but on occasion there are also people who sometimes wish the Salvation Army could do more for them.
"Unfortunately, our resources are limited," said the pastor. "But that's not a knock against anybody. Resources are not unlimited, whether you're the Salvation Army, the government or whomever."
One of the women, who did not wish to be named, said she makes regular visits to the food van, due to its convenient location.
"It's hard to get to some of the other places by the time you're done with the other things you have to do," she said.
With the rising cost of food and social assistance not providing enough to stretch for nutritious meals, "the Salvation Army helps a lot," she said.
During the weekends and holidays when the hours of other social services might be abbreviated, the brunette said the Operation Hunger Relief van is consistent with friendly staff.
That reliability "really helps on the cold days," she added, when the winter weather sets in, many people whose only form of transportation may be their feet can't make it the longer distances from their neighbourhood to the downtown centres.
"A lot of people would starve if it wasn't for the Salvation Army."
