Every Thursday, The Salvation Army’s Boundless Vancouver church hosts a community brunch program where guests come for a delicious meal and leave with more than a satisfied appetite. They leave with a sense of community, dignity and hope.

The community brunch program is open to everyone and provides an inclusive space for those facing food insecurity or simply seeking community. On average, the program serves 70 to 80 people. For ongoing support, a community fridge provides barrier-free access to fresh food, helping nearly 100-150 people every day.

“Beyond a meal, I think the most important thing that it provides is companionship. It really brings our community and our neighbours together,” says Pamela Burt, food services manager.

When Burt joined Boundless Vancouver as the food services manager seven years ago, she made it her mission to eliminate the need to purchase food and instead rescue it to help minimize food waste in the community. Within her first year, she achieved her goal by building relationships with local grocery stores and businesses. Now all the food programs at Boundless Vancouver use 100 percent rescued food.

When guests come in to attend the community brunch or access the community fridge, they will find that the meals are prepared with care and the food stocked in the fridge has been picked with love. The space is filled with the sounds of the kitchen, conversations among the guests and the scents of home cooking, creating a warm and welcoming atmosphere.

“When people come in our door, I want them to feel really special and spoiled. Sometimes that’s the only meal they’re going to get that day, and I want it to be the best meal,” says Burt.

What began as providing meals for the community and an effort to reduce food waste has grown into a powerful point of connection and hope. The food programs not only fight food insecurity but also open the door to many other opportunities at Boundless Vancouver. For many, accessing a food program has led to graduating from Pathway of Hope, attending church or a Dance Fit class, volunteering and so much more.

“I love that food is a doorway because everybody eats and everyone wants to be a part of that. It’s like breaking bread, right? When neighbours come in and they’re a part of the food, it just opens that door to everything we do,” says Burt.

Photo: Julianna Acosta

This story is from: