A Better Life Foundation (the folks behind super popular monthly Greasy Spoon Diner at Save on Meats) have cooked up a new community experience that impacts people in an immediate and meaningful way. We just caught wind of what they’ve been working on and it’s pretty incredible.
Plenty of Plates is a hands-on, 4-hour experience that gives those living in the Downtown Eastside an opportunity to sit down in a restaurant to enjoy a three-course meal – something many of us take for granted. You and your team will do all the heavy lifting (under the guidance of a trained chef) to prepare, cook, and serve a wholesome meal for a group of DTES locals, some of the most marginalized people in our city. For some, it will be their first time dining at a restaurant. For many, it will be a rare hot, nutritious meal.
Bringing two vastly different worlds together for a shared experience creates a deep reciprocal sense of connection and gratitude. If you’re looking for a unique team building or group fundraising activity, this one is pretty special. Hearts will be warmed, bellies will be full. Since launching this program, companies like Apple, RYU, and iQMetrics have rallied up teams and signed up to host an evening at Plenty of Plates.
“Our office is just two blocks up from the most impoverished postal code in BC,” said Krystal Ho, Director of Corporate Relations, iQMetrix. “We are so lucky and sometimes we forget…Rolling up our sleeves, going in and preparing nutritious warm meals for those who may not know where their next one is coming from makes a real impact – not just for the residents of the DTES, but importantly our staff as well. It is a super empowering team-building event, it helps us stay grounded; stay grateful and true to our values.”
How to sign up for Plenty of Plates
First off, you’ll need to get a team together (max 15 people). Once you have the gang committed, you’ll need to hit the minimum donation amount to sign up. For some groups, this might mean finding creative ways to fundraise, for others, a sign-off from the boss. This participation fee covers the cost of shutting down the restaurant early, staffing, ingredients, and supports ABLF’s daily meal program. Trust us, the dollars are stretched as much as they can to support as many people as possible.
Drop a line to Evan at ABLF for more info – he has lots ideas and impact stories to share, and will make sure the night is seamless and memorable for you.
PLENTY OF PLATES @ Save-on-Meats feat. iQmetrix, Dec 2017 from Geoff Webb on Vimeo.
Photo credit: @krissyjeh