Vernon woman Tracey Griffin (left) with husband Jimmy Miller.

Image Credit: SUBMITTED/ Tiffany Griffin

Vernon business owners Tracey Griffin and husband Jimmy Miller take their well-stocked pickup truck to a downtown parking lot Monday nights to offer food and clothing to the less fortunate.

Their humanitarian venture started a few years ago when temperatures dipped to -19 C and they decided to bring hot chocolate to cold people living on the street, and the operation has continued to expand.

“It’s a lot of work, and sometimes we struggle, but no matter what people need to be warm and eat,” Griffin said.

The pair goes out every week and sets up at the Wholesale Club parking lot at 2501 34 Street to feed and help clothe the homeless, low income and seniors, the job made possible by donations from the community and the help of some volunteers.

“Some people share their personal stories and hearing them, you realize it could be any of us going hungry, you never know,” she said. “One girl asked me for socks, her feet were wrapped up in paper towels. It hurts to see.”

The couple takes in donations of comfort foods and blankets, gloves and toques, as well as bottle drives to fundraise for their cause. They’ve been able to put on suppers at Christmas and Easter.

“One lady donated eight casserole pans of lasagna and we added caesar salad and garlic bread, the whole meal," Griffin said. 

Vernon residents Tracey Griffin and Jimmy Miller's hot drink setup on their pickup.

Image Credit: SUBMITTED/ Tracey Griffin

During the winter they bring out hot foods and hot water for tea and coffee, while during the summers they offer cold sandwiches and potato salads. The meals are precooked and packaged, and packed up in coolers for transport.

They’ll be needing a few more volunteers to join them as summer approaches and their moving business, AAA Packman Moving and Labour Service, gets busy. During hot spells, they go out daily to hand out cold water.

READ MORE: Penticton woman continues feeding homeless despite threats

Just over a month ago, Griffin started an online auction on Facebook, auctioning off things like home décor items, furniture and kitchenware with proceeds going to the outreach.

She said quite a few people have donated items to the online auction, but only five weeks in, progress is slow.

“We were going to auction hanging baskets for Mother’s Day and started looking around at deals in town but didn’t get many bites that were affordable.”

READ MORE: Why homelessness will only get worse in the Okanagan, Kamloops

Go here for more information on the outreach called Packman’s Opens Hearts in Vernon and to connect with the organizers.

“We’ll feed anybody, even someone walking by can take a meal home. It isn’t much but we try to make a difference one day a week.”

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