Lunch for $1
Did you know that our members have access to a warm, nutritious lunch for only $1 at our drop-in centre on Venables St.?
We serve 70-90 meals daily and, thanks to the Food Stash Foundation, members have access to additional food support.
Audrey Dilberovic has worked as a mental health worker and cook at The Kettle for over two decades. She has taken care of the kitchen at our drop-in center from day one and has seen the program evolve over the years. One thing is never changed, she says - her team’s unwavering commitment to provide the best possible service to Kettle members and nutritious food to keep them strong.
Every morning at our drop-in centre on Venables, members are welcomed by a welcoming smell coming from the kitchen. It’s the smell of a delicious, warm, homemade lunch our staff is preparing for the day.
We provide a number of different services at the drop-in, but it is easy to say that the Meal Program is one of the most popular among our members. It started over two decades ago and includes tea and coffee, snacks, fruit, and a healthy lunch every day of the week. A nutritious lunch costs only $1. Our members can pay for it directly or complete small chores after lunch instead.
Audrey and her colleagues prepare a variety of hearty dishes for lunch. Of course, our members have some favorite meals.
“They like baked chicken with mashed potatoes, veggies, and salad” - says Audrey. “They like the beef burritos, pork chops, butter chicken, fettuccini Alfredo, spaghetti with meatballs, burgers. Saturdays are “homemade soup and sandwich” days, and on Sundays, there are more traditional meals with a dessert.”
“During the pandemic we were feeding anywhere between 140-155 people daily from the back door. We would have bags of donations - cereal, peanut butter, basic things to carry them over. Sometimes there would be ready meals there. Staff would be packaging that up as well as the daily lunch meal. We were very consistent through out the pandemic, we didn’t just make sandwiches. We made exactly the same kind of hot meals that we make when we are open.””
Food handouts were continued after the pandemic thanks to the Food Stash Foundation. The Kettle was the first organization approached by the founder of the Food Stash Foundation a few years ago, and their support in daily food donations made a tremendous change in our Meal program. Not only were our staff able to offer additional food support throughout the pandemic, but their continued donation of fruits, meat, dairy, and baked products ensure improved food security for our members.
Hot oatmeal with fresh fruits like strawberries, blueberries, or raspberries for breakfast, also started being served every day. Our clients seem to very much enjoy that.
With the rate of inflation and food costs continuing the rise, our members are struggling to make ends meet using their existing disability cheques. Access to reliable food support is a big relief for the most vulnerable people among us.
Every day, just before lunch, a very special candle is lit. Its flame has brightened up the space for over two decades now. Every day.
The candle is a beautiful tribute to all past members of The Kettle. To the people who moved on with their lives, and in memory of all those who passed away.
“Sometimes if we are really busy with serving lunch and forget about the candle, people would yell out and say - The candle is not lit!”, says Audrey, explaining how important this tradition is to all members of The Kettle community.
Having an access to regular healthy meals is a blessing to our members, and having access to nutritious and affordable food creates a ripple effect of impact. Many of our clients report they get sick less often and have started making healthier food choices outside of the drop-in centre, choosing to eat salad more frequently. These small steps in the right direction are what make us really proud.