Bins of cookies waiting to be bagged for Athlete lunches.
BC Summer Games

Thousands of pounds of food needed for BC Summer Games

Jul 20, 2022 | 11:23 AM

PRINCE GEORGE – In less than twenty-four hours, Prince George will be buzzing with BC Summer games action. It’s been a long journey of planning, preparing, and organizing every aspect of this event, including food.

Not many people would put thought into how much food is actually needed for an event like this but there are 3,000 teenage athletes that will need breakfast, lunch, dinner, and tons of snacks.

“Just with food and all the containers and everything that comes with it. We’re looking at probably 200 to $250,000,” explains Erik Vliegenthart, director of Food Services for the BC Summer Games.

“We’re not talking about one meal a day. We’re talking about, you know, breakfast, lunch, dinner, snacks and other meat, like, you know, and additional snacks in between,” said Director of Friends of the Games Mindy Stroet.

That is a lot of food, none of this would have been possible without the help of local businesses like Save On Foods, Shoppers Foods Wholesale, and even Costco.

Stroet says there was even a local cattle rancher that jumped on board to help with food.

“We’re thrilled that Bar K Ranch came on board and provided us with 2,000 pounds of ground beef, which will help feed our athletes whether or not if that’s, you know, burgers at the opening barbecue on Thursday night or another dinner one of the other night of the week it’s a huge help.”

Vilegenthart also tells CKPG News that the BC Summer Games will also be paying it forward, with all the extra leftover food.

“We are going to be packaging up all of our cooked food that is leftover. [it] is going to be picked up by St Vincent de Paul and it will be donated and given to those less fortunate who need it,” said Vilegenthart. “Anything that is left over after the games will also be donated to food banks St Vincent de Paul, everything like that.”

The BC Summer Games start on July 21through to the 24, with events taking place all over Prince George.

Click here to report an error or typo in this article