Youth will be able to pick up food boxes at the downtown Nanaimo NYSA location every Thursday until the COVID-19 pandemic is over. (Google Earth)

By Spencer Sterritt

good eats

Nanaimo Youth Service Agency helping the hungry during COVID-19 crisis

Mar 26, 2020 | 7:34 PM

NANAIMO — A new initiative is helping youth who need it the most during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Nanaimo Youth Services Association is now handing out free food boxes every Thursday at their downtown Nanaimo location for youth and their families. The food boxes are filled with perishable and non-perishable goods from the Loaves and Fishes Food Bank.

Program organizer Aakash Pawar told NanaimoNewsNOW three people used the service the first time it was offered on Thursday, March 26.

“They didn’t expect a dedicated food bag. There was quite a bit in there so I saw a lot of relief wash over them,” he said.

Many of the youth helped by the association work in jobs directly affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, such as retail, restaurants or construction.

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Pawar said worrying what’s for dinner can easily be eclipsed by worries about rent and housing in this time of crisis.

“What we found out was food was not always on their mind. They’re hungry and will need the nutrition but they might not necessarily have those resources to even prioritize food.”

Anyone interested can sign up to pick up a food bag on the Nanaimo Youth Services Association Facebook page. Pickups will be staggered to every 10 minutes to keep social distancing practices in place.

The Association has also launched a new initiative to help cut through the confusing political language used in financial aid announcements.

“At a time like this, to have someone explain it in layman terms is far more beneficial than going on yourself and trying to figure out how it applies you,” Pawar said.

“Call us and talk to someone who’s gone through this, who can say ‘this is your service, this is how your eligible for this, go to this website and apply from there.'”

The services will be offered until the COVID-19 pandemic is officially over.

spencer@nanaimonewsnow.com

On Twitter: @spencer_sterrit