UGM serves about 600 meals a day in the Downtown Eastside at $5.45 each
The mission says a meal is often the first contact people have with its recovery, shelter and housing supports, and that any donation buys one.
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Union Gospel Mission serves an average of 600 meals a day at its Downtown Eastside location in Vancouver, and each plate costs $5.45.
The mission says that plate is often where people first connect with its addiction recovery, safe shelter and supportive housing. Its Tuesday evening Community Meal at the Women & Families Centre adds close to 300 meals a week for individuals and families. Meals have been central to its work since 1940, the mission says.
The kitchen also feeds people inside the building. Chef Stacy prepares food for the on-site Women's Recovery program, for children in the daycare on the seventh floor of the Women & Families Centre, and for kids in the Eastsiders After-School Program.
Chef Stacy says he treats food as medicine, a lesson he learned from an elder. "I always do my best to care for and prepare the food, because I'm helping someone in need, and they deserve the best," he says.
Gordon, who returns each year for the holiday meal, says the food is only part of it. "It's not just about the meals; it's about everyone here and being respected. It's helped me a lot," he says. "We just need someone to talk to, a hug or something that says, 'You're not alone'."
John, a program participant, says he learned more in his first year and a half at the mission than in his whole life before. "The food was amazing, the showers were amazing, everything about the place was amazing," he says.
Any donation funds meals, the mission says.
