This Wednesday, grabbing a hot dog from the KPMG Taste of Summer Charity BBQ will help support local youth.
All proceeds raised during the BBQ will go towards Youth For Christ (YFC) Steinbach, which says more than 500 different kids have walked through its doors since January this year.
YFC Steinbach's role in the community
"Our youth have wild lives at times and not always a place to share what's going on," says Ashley Reimer, ministry director with the organization.
YFC Steinbach strives to bridge that gap, she says, offering a drop-in program every night of the week, providing meals, mentoring, and connection to safe people and resources.
It can look like basketball, skateboarding, and football on the surface, but fulfills much deeper needs.
"We have our volunteers and staff going and connecting with all the youth, trying to build relationships, keep people safe, but also get to know them, hear their hearts, and hear their stories," Reimer says.
Although the stories can be painful to hear, Reimer says they only deepen the staff’s love of the kids.
The reward is well worth it.
"Youth are willing to open up and share what's going on, and they're showing up—sometimes without friends—and just being like, 'I want to connect. I want to talk to someone. That's why I came here today,'" Reimer says.
Where funds from the KPMG Taste of Summer Charity BBQ will go
Reimer explains that proceeds from the charity BBQ will go toward YFC's impact fund, which helps it run all of its programming.
"This summer, that money is going to help do laser tag, go camping, and a bunch of those fun things, but especially with food," she says.
Food is one of the biggest portions of the organization’s budget.
"We serve so much food—over 5,000 meals last year, and I think we were already over half (of that) before the halfway point this year," Reimer says, adding a lot of youth coming to YFC's drop-in program haven't had enough to eat the day they come in.
Funds raised through the BBQ will also help pay for youth to go to counselling and access other needed resources, help them get clothes, and do fun things, she says.
How the community can help
Reimer says community support—whether financial, food-related, or through volunteering—makes a big difference. Donations of pre-made meals, in particular, are always welcome.
Grabbing lunch at the KPMG Taste of Summer Charity BBQ this Wednesday is also an easy way to help.
The BBQ runs from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. in front of the Steinbach Credit Union. A minimum donation of $2 is required, with all proceeds going directly to YFC Steinbach.
Written with files from Carly Koop