UGM serving thousands of meals on the DTES at BBQ for the less fortunate

VANCOUVER (NEWS 1130) – We are approaching the middle of barbecue season and today, some of Vancouver’s most vulnerable will get a taste of what most of us take for granted.

The Union Gospel Mission loves its lists for its 19th barbecue today in Oppenheimer Park: it’s serving up 4,000 hamburgers, 4,000 smokies, 4,000 bottles of water, and 4,000 freezies.

There is also 1,250 pounds coleslaw and an equal amount of pasta salad for the taking. The UGM’s Nicole Mucci says after the year they’ve had, people the Downtown Eastside deserve a break.

“Homelessness, poverty, and addiction don’t take a summer holiday and it’s been an especially difficult year in our community with fatal overdoses happening daily, homelessness increasing, and poverty number in children just [rising]. During the summer, our guests need a reason to celebrate life and they deserve a break,” she says, adding an average of five people become homeless every week in Metro Vancouver.

“The most recent child poverty report card that came out [last] fall actually showed that childhood poverty on the Downtown Eastside actually grew over 11 per cent and its now sitting at 73 per cent of kids on the Downtown Eastside are living in poverty. That’s tough,” she says. The child poverty rate is higher than it’s ever been, according to Mucci.

There’s a special kids and family area for those attending today’s BBQ as well. There will be balloons, a bouncy castle, and a few other fun family-oriented activities.

“For many parents, they don’t get to take their kids out to other events in Metro Vancouver because even just taking transit can cost money. This might be one of their only chances to get outside and have a fun summer barbecue.”

But it’s not just about free food. Mucci says those attending can be connected with vital services through UGM staffers who are on site.

“We do have outreach workers who go and connect one-on-one with the families as they are at the barbecue and they let them know that those resources are available at UGM,” she explains.

“With so many families living below the poverty line, summer can be particularly hard for them because they don’t have access to those meal programs at school or some of those after school programs that provide kid with health snacks. Our outreach workers are able to connect with families at the BBQ and let them know that if they need it we have family hampers for them. We also have options for moms with young babies–they may have to choose between buying diapers and paying their utility bill. We actually have baby supplies as well if they’re needed.”

She adds having services like that available can be life changing for some people.

Over 150 volunteers will begin serving meals at 11:00 a.m. and the barbecue runs until about 4:00 p.m.