# Kind Community Catering Potluck Cafe Offers Employment in Vancouver's Downtown Eastside By Bianca | Published 2012-02-15 | Social Good Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/potluck-cafe References: [potluckcatering.org](http://www.potluckcatering.org/) 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](http://www.potluckcatering.org/) 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](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/local-food-support), 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](http://www.potluckcatering.org/) Potluck Cafe on [Twitter](https://twitter.com/#!/potluckcafe) Potluck Cafe on [Facebook](http://www.facebook.com/pages/Potluck-Cafe-Catering/211506295564374) ## Trend Insights (Trend Hunter) - Score: 1.6/10 - Popularity: 26% | Activity: 15% | Freshness: 8% - Audience gender: 50% men, 50% women - Primary generations: Millennial, Gen X - Top markets: North America ## Categories [Trend Hunter](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends) > [Social Good](https://www.trendhunter.com/socialgood) > [Social Business](https://www.trendhunter.com/socialbusiness) ## Key Themes ### Why This Trend Is Growing - **Community-focused Catering:** There is an opportunity for catering businesses to prioritize community outreach and job creation in their operations. - **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. - **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. ### Industries Being Reshaped - **Food Service Industry:** Restaurants, cafes, and catering companies can prioritize job creation and community outreach to positively impact local economies. - **Social Enterprise Industry:** Social enterprises, including non-profit organizations and B Corporations, can focus on self-sustaining revenue models to better serve their communities. - **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. ## Related on Trend Hunter - [Shared Kitchen Initatives](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/shared-kitchen.md) - [Food Service Employee-Focused Initiatives](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/giving-kitchen.md) - [Family-Supporting Restaurant Initiatives](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/white-spot.md) - [Eco-Friendly Pop-Up Restaurants](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/the-green-vic.md) - [Pop-Up Takeout Joints](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/popup-takeout-joints.md) - [BIPOC Culinary Grants](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/black-opportunity-fund.md) - [Purpose-Driven Popcorn Snacks](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/gourmet-popcorn-snacks-and-gifts.md) - [Foodie Networking Apps](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/yourtable.md) - [Student Nutrition-Supporting Campaigns](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/student-nutrition.md)