A new program in Princeton ensures that nobody in the community goes hungry or without a fresh meal.

Home to Heart Initiative was created earlier this year as a way to help those affected by food and money insecurity. After a couple of months of planning and finalizing details, the initiative handed out its first meals this month.

Teal Quin, co-founder of the initiative, said the idea started to form after a conversation with her friends, Katie McInnes and Jan Turgeon, whom she had first met at the Baptist Church Food Bank while they were all volunteers during the 2021 flood. They were all aware that food insecurity was a big problem, especially for the unhoused and precariously housed in the community, and had heard firsthand from two low-income seniors about the lack of substantial food on hand. Quin said that they find the inclusion of seniors and people with disabilities a necessary aspect of the community.

Turgeon, who is the delivery driver and outreach volunteer, helped orchestrate the endeavour, according to Quin, as she brought Quin and McInnes on board. With Quin's background in fundraising, media outreach and providing meals to the unhoused, along with McInnes' knowledge of feeding a large amount and business experience, they believed they could create an initiative that would provide more food and meals to those in need, in addition to the food bank.

"Although our unhoused population can use the food bank, this is winter time, and cooking in the elements can be a daunting task for those living rough," Quin said. "We knew there was a Thursday afternoon meal and there would be a new drop-in through Princeton Family services on Mondays and Fridays, but nowhere else for those experiencing a gap in their meals."

Quin, McInnes and Turgeon identified that a meal program with a dinner time goal was the most likely to benefit those finding it difficult to manage grocery prices, such as low-income seniors, people with disabilities, the unhoused and people in difficult housing situations. 

"We wanted to be inclusive," Quin said.

They looked into having an indoor location for the program, but insurance liability requirements made it almost impossible to manage. What was manageable was the food, and making food available. Quin had started a meal program before during the rise of tent cities in Maple Ridge in 2017, where she began cooking three meals per week for its residents.

"I was serving outside back then, so we thought that the same solution for Princeton would be perfect," she said.

Home to Heart is currently serving its meals at Two Rivers Park under the 1997 Food Donor Encouragement Act Bill 10, which releases the program from liability, providing the necessary steps are taken to ensure all requirements of the act are met.

Funding for the project is through community goodwill, and after putting out a call for cooks on their Home to Heart Initiative Facebook page, they now have 11 cooks who rotate and cook bimonthly. 

The initiative has worked together with the food bank in securing items for the cooks to use towards the meals, which will help cut costs for the program and reduce food waste due to spoilage, according to Quin. Rock Ridge Canyon also reached out to provide surplus food from its banquet meals.

"Rather than throwing away perfectly good food, we decided that we could repackage the food into portions to give it away if we could not use the product ourselves by offering it to the cooks," Quin said. "We distribute at the food bank parking lot as clients exit when we have something to offer."

Home to Heart's next sponsor, BC Green, came to the initiative after an employee shared the Facebook post with her boss. It donated the bread for the sandwiches, as well as drinks, snacks, plates, cups and take-out containers, and even donated a brand new barbecue. 

Many residents within the community have also donated serving items which has helped lower costs, and one resident donated a stand-up freezer.

Although the initiative has received a lot of support, Quin mentioned that not everyone is on board with the idea.

"We've been aware that some people believe that feeding the unhoused is not helpful to the community, but we disagree," she said. "When people are fed, they can better function and make better choices, and this is as true for a low-income senior as it is for an unhoused individual.

Home to Heart Initiative is not yet a non-profit, but Quin said they will see what the first year looks like before moving to a more formal arrangement. They have been awarded a grant through the United Way Local Love Fund, and are also holding a 50/50 draw thanks to the Chamber of Commerce.

"The whole experience has been a joy to build from the ground up," Quin said. "Our mission is simple鈥攆eed people who can benefit and do it in a dignified manner, and we hope to bring people from different walks of life together to interact in the community."

Meal dates will be posted on the Home to Heart Initiative Facebook page. To volunteer or learn more, contact Quin through the Facebook page, and to donate through e-transfer, transfer funds to hometoheartinitiative@gmail.com with 'Home to Heart' as the answer to the security question.