Food and Change go Hand in Hand
Food plays a vital role in bringing people together and connecting communities. At Potluck Catering, we believe in the power of food to change lives, which is why we support organizations such as Promise Vancouver, Binners Project, Aboriginal Health and the YWCA Vancouver. When we work with these organizations, we provide food for those in need and create a safe, welcoming environment for socializing.
Food is an important aspect of culture, bringing people together to celebrate, mourn, or simply break bread. It is a common language that transcends cultural and geographical barriers, providing comfort and connection.
In addition to its social benefits, food also plays a crucial role in our mental and physical health. Eating nutritious and well-balanced meals can improve our mood, boost our energy levels, and support overall physical well-being. It is essential to prioritize food as an important aspect of self-care.
Peer Staffing
Potluck Café Society currently employs peer staff from the Downtown Eastside to work various low-barrier jobs. These roles vary from kitchen staff to community meal distribution. We do this through a range of community partnerships, such as Mission Possible, EMBERS Eastside Works and Crabtree Housing.
Hiring peers with barriers to traditional employment is important for a number of reasons. For the city of Vancouver, it helps to address social and economic inequality, by providing meaningful employment opportunities to individuals who may have struggled to find work elsewhere. For Potluck Café Society, it aligns with the organization's mission to transform lives by providing employment and training to members of the community. Additionally, it helps to drive economic growth by providing a source of income to individuals who may have otherwise been unemployed, and contributes to the overall vitality of the local economy.
Employing peers with barriers also provides a chance at gaining and building transferrable skills and developing valuable work experience, which can help to increase employability and support long-term career success.