We've featured a few social enterprises targeting Vancouver's Downtown Eastside (DTES), and today we're adding a new one, which focuses on providing employment opportunities in the area. Potluck is a catering company and cafe that provides food and beverages to hundreds of local clients.
While they are a registered charity, we're including them on SocialBusiness.org since they run on a self-sustaining model that generates revenue, rather than depending on donations. The resulting revenues are re-invested back into Potluck to help cover business expenses as well as support local community programs.
They offer an Integrated Food Services & Life Skills Training and Employment Program, a program that provides over 30,000 free meals each year, a Community Kitchen Program that teaches cooking skills at the Potluck Café, a Recipes for Success Outreach Program that offers employment support tips, and the DTES Kitchen Tables Project, which is working on providing more nutritious meals through its various programs.
Contact Information
Potluck Cafe and Catering website
Potluck Cafe on Twitter
Potluck Cafe on Facebook
Kind Community Catering
Potluck Cafe Offers Employment in Vancouver's Downtown Eastside
Trend Themes
1. Community-focused Catering - There is an opportunity for catering businesses to prioritize community outreach and job creation in their operations.
2. Integrated Food Services Training Programs - Offering life skills training and employment programs that include cooking, nutrition, and entrepreneurial skills can attract a diverse workforce and benefit local communities.
3. Socially Sustainable Revenue Models - Businesses that focus on self-sustaining models to generate revenue, reinvest in their community programs, and support local employees can become disruptors in their industries.
Industry Implications
1. Food Service Industry - Restaurants, cafes, and catering companies can prioritize job creation and community outreach to positively impact local economies.
2. Social Enterprise Industry - Social enterprises, including non-profit organizations and B Corporations, can focus on self-sustaining revenue models to better serve their communities.
3. Education and Training Industry - Integrated food services training programs that offer life skills and job training can be an effective way to upskill low-income and marginalized communities.