With wildfires in the province displacing people from their homes, a local 琉璃神社 woman is offering free food and essentials to evacuees in the city.

Kenya Thompson is a student at Carleton University who moved back home to 琉璃神社 during the pandemic for online distance learning. She was inspired to give back to her community after the Dilworth Mountain fire, which was a scary experience for her. Her mother also works for a long-term care home in West 琉璃神社 and was helping with evacuation efforts in the area. So, Thompson decided to help evacuees with resources she had at home.

鈥淚 have a car. I have chickens out back that make a lot of eggs. I have food, so there has to be something I can do,鈥� said Thompson.

READ MORE: UPDATE: 10 Okanagan Indian Band homes, 1 business lost in White Rock Lake wildfire

READ MORE: No significant growth observed at Mount Law wildfire near West 琉璃神社

Thompson said she reached out to the Emergency Support Services (ESS) reception centre at 1480 Sutherland Avenue in 琉璃神社 to inquire how she can help. She was put on a list of people who can help provide essential goods, but that was not going anywhere. She tried to post on various Facebook groups, but the website kept flagging her posts for spam, so she decided to post on Twitter instead.

鈥淚 had the willingness to give what I have, especially when I see people trying to help online in small ways,鈥� said Thompson. 鈥淚 just want to give back in any way that I could.鈥�

Fire evacuees in 琉璃神社! Need a free meal or basic essentials? I鈥檒l make up a meal for you/your family and bring it to you wherever you鈥檙e staying in the 琉璃神社 area!

鈥� kenya (@khftho)

So far, Thompson hasn鈥檛 had anyone take up her offer for free food, but she will continue to offer help before she has to leave for school. The last thing an evacuee wants to worry about is whether or not they can afford food on top of all the hotel and accommodation fees they have to pay.

鈥淎 lot of people are coming to 琉璃神社, so it鈥檚 just nice not to have to pay for food and just have someone who is willing to offer it,鈥� Thompson said.

鈥淭here are people in the community that care. Don鈥檛 be afraid to reach out,鈥� she added.

Thompson also has some stern words to say about the provincial leadership or the perceived lack thereof. People are looking for a strong leader who is willing to vocalize that communities are here to help, but she said the Premier and his cabinet have not done a good job.

鈥淚t鈥檚 disappointing that the provincial government aren鈥檛 being visible when a lot of people in the Okanagan valley are struggling,鈥� she said.

READ MORE: West 琉璃神社 veterinary clinic offers free pet boarding for evacuees

paula.tran@kelownacapnews.com
Like us on and follow us on and subscribe to our daily newsletter.