Community Response
CRASH’s community response initiatives are created in direct response to the realities faced by unhoused, precariously housed, and drug using members of our community in Campbell River.
Our work evolves based on what people are experiencing on the ground, whether that means gaps in after-hours support, food insecurity, overdose risk, extreme weather, or barriers to accessing care and safety.
Some initiatives are ongoing, while others were temporary responses to urgent community needs at a specific moment in time. Together, they reflect the power of grassroots action, mutual aid, and community care.
clothing pop-ups
CRASH’s Clothing Pop-Ups were created in response to growing barriers to accessing clean, dry clothing in Campbell River following the closure of the Kwesa Place drop-in space, which had previously offered clothing racks and laundry services to community members. Using donations provided by the community, these pop-ups offer clothing, outerwear, and basic essentials to unhoused and precariously housed folks through a more dignified, choice-based approach. Rather than simply handing items out, we aim to create a shopping-style experience where people can look through items, choose what they need, and pick things they feel comfortable and confident wearing. The pop-ups are rooted in the belief that access to clean clothing, warmth, comfort, and personal choice are important parts of dignity and community care. These pop-ups are ongoing and depend heavily on community donations and volunteer capacity. Folks interested in contributing clothing or supplies can drop donations off at CRASH’s community donation box located at: River Ink Printing and Signs: 1451 Dogwood St Campbell River, BC
community dinner
In response to growing food insecurity in Campbell River and the closure of the Hem’ʔaelas Community Kitchen in 2025, community members and grassroots groups across the city came together to help increase access to hot meals throughout the week for unhoused, precariously housed, and low-income residents. As part of this broader community effort, CRASH organized and hosted weekly Sunday Community Dinners from October 2025 to April 2026. The dinners were created to help fill gaps in food access during the colder months, while also creating space for connection, care, and community. The program operated entirely through volunteer labour, donations, and grassroots support. Meals were prepared, transported, and served by volunteers alongside the distribution of outreach supplies, clothing, and other basic needs items when available. Over the course of the initiative, hundreds of meals were shared with community members navigating poverty, housing instability, and the ongoing toxic drug crisis. The dinners ended in April 2026 due to limited volunteer capacity and funding, but remain an important part of CRASH’s ongoing community response history.
COMMUNITY VIGIL
On October 19 2025, following a public RCMP announcement regarding a significant number of overdose deaths in Campbell River, CRASH organized a community vigil at Spirit Square to honour the lives lost and create space for grief, reflection, and connection. The vigil was held in response to the devastating impact the toxic drug crisis continues to have on our community. Many of those lost were deeply loved friends, family members, neighbours, and community members whose lives mattered profoundly. Community members gathered to share stories, light candles, mourn together, and stand in solidarity with everyone affected by the ongoing loss of life caused by the toxic drug supply. The vigil also served as a reminder that behind every statistic is a human being, someone loved, missed, and deserving of dignity both in life and in death.
The crash tent
During the summer of 2025, CRASH organized multiple temporary late-night outreach and overdose prevention pop-ups throughout Campbell River, commonly referred to within the community as “The CRASH Tent.” These pop-ups were created in response to ongoing overdose risk, limited after-hours supports, and the reality that many people were being left without access to harm reduction services during the late evening and overnight hours. Set up in various locations throughout the community, the tent provided harm reduction supplies, water, snacks, overdose response support, and a safer space for people navigating the toxic drug crisis. The initiative was rooted in direct community response and the belief that people deserve access to care and support, especially during the times risk is highest. The CRASH Tent also drew significant attention and backlash from bylaw enforcement and members of the public, reflecting broader tensions around visibility, public space, harm reduction, and how communities respond to people who use drugs. Despite challenges, the pop-ups became an important example of grassroots mutual aid and community members stepping up to address urgent gaps in support during a time of heightened overdose risk.