LunchLAB Sees Food-Focused Charities Partner with Chefs to Feed Families in Need
Vancouver charities, Fresh Roots and Growing Chefs!, announce LunchLAB: Chefs for Families to provide nourishment and connection through chef-prepared meals for families who have been impacted by COVID-19.
LunchLAB began in the fall of 2019 originally as an educational in-school meal program. In March 2020, shortly after the closures of schools due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Fresh Roots, and Growing Chefs! recognized the needs of the community had drastically changed and they responded. Working with the Vancouver School Board and generous collaborators including the Italian Cultural Centre, Pacific Restaurant Supply, and Ono Vancouver, the charities quickly pivoted LunchLAB to offer students and their families delicious, healthy, chef-prepared meals out of school.
“The Italian Cultural Centre is proud to be a part of LunchLab Chefs for Families,” says Mario Miceli, Executive Director of Il Centro Italian Cultural Centre. “The exceptional partners, suppliers and volunteers that have come together to create, package and distribute over 5000 meals a week for those who need a hand up is truly inspiring and reflects the spirit of Italians who always have room at their table for a few more people.”
These meals not only provide much-needed nourishment, but meaningful employment for chefs and kitchen professionals who would otherwise not be working.
“LunchLAB is providing essential work for cooks and allows us to be of service to those most in need while doing what we do best,” explains TJ Conwi, chef and co-owner of Ono Vancouver.
LunchLAB: Chefs for Families prepare more than 5,000 meals every week, ensuring more than 260 families in need have three nutritious and delicious meals every day.
“When we looked to the chef and restaurant industry, they were already doing such incredible work in response to Covid-19, volunteering their time and talent to support people in need, despite the hardship their own industry is facing,” says Growing Chefs!’ Executive Director, Helen Stortini. “We wanted to build on the model they created and try to offer some support to the chef community that has so long supported us by creating some paid employment for chefs. As well, we want to lighten the load for families that could use a little extra help right now. The heart of the program really is about creating nourishment, joy, and connection through food during these uncertain times.”
The public can help by ordering up a meal for a family in need with a donation at LunchLAB.ca. Each order placed, provides fresh, healthy, restaurant-quality meals, salad-making kits, fresh produce and pantry staples to families.
“We are incredibly grateful for such a seamless collaboration between organizations and blown away by the number of people reaching out to volunteer their time and donate food, space, services, products and money. The resilience and support from our community is truly inspiring,” says Alexa Pitoulis, Interim Executive Director of Fresh Roots.
LunchLAB would like to thank the following supporters for their generous contributions:
Community Food Centres Canada
Social Venture Partners Vancouver
Vancouver Foundation
The Vancouver Sun Children’s Fund Adopt-A-School
United Way
Breakfast Club of Canada
Whole Food Market
Pacific Restaurant Supply
Cropthorne Farm
Discovery Organics
Gordon Food Service
Nature’s Path
Yen Bros Food Service
Fresh Prep
Fresh St. Market
Lyft
Odd Society Spirits
About LunchLAB: Chefs For Families
Both Fresh Roots Urban Farm Society and Growing Chefs! believe food can be a catalyst for positive change and a source of joy and inspiration, even during challenging times.
With the closure of schools due to COVID-19, Fresh Roots and Growing Chefs!, working with the Vancouver School Board and a fantastic team of collaborators and supporters (including Italian Cultural Centre, Pacific Restaurant Supply, and Ono Vancouver), quickly pivoted its innovative LunchLAB educational in-school meal program to offer students and their families delicious, healthy, chef-prepared meals out of school. These meals not only provide much-needed nourishment, but meaningful employment for chefs and kitchen professionals who would otherwise not be working. LunchLAB: Chefs for Families continues to bring comfort and enjoyment the best way chefs know how—through non-stigmatizing, tasty meals especially for those in need of a little extra help right now. LunchLAB: Chefs for Families is providing more than 5,000 meals to 260 families each week. More info at lunchlab.ca.
Websites:
lunchlab.ca
freshroots.ca/lunch-lab
growingchefs.ca/lunch-lab
Instagram:
@growingchefs
@FreshRootsFarms
