Since 2000, the Greater Vancouver Food Bank Society has been running the Downtown Eastside Community Kitchen Project (DECK), which assists residents of the Downtown Eastside by using community kitchens as a social outlet as well as a skill-building arena.
Residents of single room occupancy (SRO) hotels often do not have access to any cooking facilities or the skills to cook and cannot provide a meal for themselves. DECK provides them with a method of obtaining food in a self-directed and dignified manner by helping them form community kitchens where they can learn the necessary skills to cook nutritious meals. DECK assists by finding appropriate cooking space and much needed equipment, providing groceries, teaching cooking skills and training group leaders. Residents gain the confidence and community connections to help them feed themselves well. They also become less isolated by working together and by sharing meals.
DECK is a successful project that has been recognized by the Canadian Cancer Society‛s Innovative Community Capacity Building Award, which recognizes local projects that inspire communities to take action to identify and meet their own needs. A survey of DECK participants also revealed that over 90% felt that the project improved their access to food and improved the lives of community members in DECK.
DECK Locations
DECK Led Kitchens
DECK leads the following community kitchens in Vancouver which are only available to clients of these organizations or residences. For further information, contact Leo Ramirez, email: leor@foodbank.bc.ca, phone: 604-216-2328.
