BRING HOME THE KITCHEN
Capital Campaign
ABOUT OUR PROJECT
Did you know that our new location doesn’t have a kitchen yet? We couldn’t afford all of our renovations at once, so the project was divided into two phases: phase 1 brought the facility up to code and Saanich bylaws and set us up for the most basic operations. Phase 2 is the commercial kitchen along with accessibility upgrades and dining room/meeting space.
Our current layout and designation with Island Health significantly limits our programs and services. We need a place for our participants to cook together in- person, to serve prepared foods to our members, to host canning and preservation workshops, to allow in-house cooking programs and to allow for member engagement. What we are permitted to prepare in the space now is hampered by cooking equipment that is not functional, as well as no exhaust or fire suppression systems.
Online programs are great, but they alone can’t replace the positive impact that comes from learning and cooking alongside your friends and peers, or the nourishment that comes from sharing a healthy meal at the dining table. Building community through healthy food requires spending quality time together, both in The Kitchen and around the dining table! With a functional commercial kitchen of our own, we could do so much more to serve our community. It’s time to bring The Kitchen home and bring the Cook back in Cook, Grow, Share and Connect!
- A commercial kitchen
- Accessibility improvements
- Improve pantry area
- Increase office space
WHAT A NEW KITCHEN WILL DO
RETURN OF IN-PERSON COOKING AND FOOD SKILLS PROGRAMs
Building skills and cooking meals together is where the magic happens at The Kitchen. We have not been able to cook in-person together since 2020 due to covid-19 and our subsequent move!
Community meals to address social isolation and improve health
CREATING LEADERSHIP AND WORKPLACE TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES FOR OUR PARTICIPANTS
Offering workplace training, and leadership opportunities to build skills and hopefully get more income into the pockets of our members
Community meals to address social isolation and improve health
COMMUNITY MEALS TO ADDRESS SOCIAL ISOLATION AND IMPROVE HEALTH
Community meals create opportunities for people to share meals together, helping to reduce social isolation, and increasing access to nutritious meals.
Community meals to address social isolation and improve health
THROUGH RENTALS THE COMMERCIAL KITCHEN WILL PROVIDE ONGOING OPERATIONAL INCOME
It will be an accessible resource for small-businesses and community groups who require commercial kitchen space (something that is in high-demand in Victoria!).
Community meals to address social isolation and improve health
COMMERCIALLY PRODUCE IN-HOUSE FOR OUR PANTRY PROGRAM AND RAISE REVENUE
Will allow us to meet more of our own Pantry Program needs while helping to reduce food waste. We can’t wait to stock the Pantry shelves and fridges with our own healthy, homemade offerings.
Community meals to address social isolation and improve health
our campaign partners
FAQ's
Necessity is the mother of all invention! There are a number of limitations for what we can cook on site as there is no exhaust system. There is a dying stove, but very little available space for food preparation or storage. Food skills programs are held online, using Zoom and we have a complicated set up that includes dragging office furniture and setting up induction burners. We are a food premises under the ‘food banks’ designation with Island Health. While this allows us to conduct the most essential activities (portioning food for the pantry), it significantly hampers our ability to cook in the space.
Construction of a commercial kitchen that works for people of all abilities to cook together will include exhaust, HVAC, and fire suppression systems, accessibility upgrades, expanded and adaptive office space and dining/meeting room area, and expanded cold storage. To be able to provide all our programs in house, Island Health requires us to have a commercial kitchen. We will then be a Full Service Food Premise!
We definitely explored this opportunity and love the incredible impact that Hero Works makes in our community! Unfortunately, neither our construction timeline nor initial capital met their requirements. Gratefully we have an incredible team, led by Banyan Construction, to do our phase 2 renovations.
Yes, we have! While we couldn’t afford both phases at once, phase 1 is completely paid for.
No. We are an independent, registered, non-profit Canadian charity. The Shelbourne Community Kitchen is located on the lower level of the Lutheran Church of the Cross. They are long-time supporters of our work. We are two separate entities, and we lease the space.
Unfortunately, financing is an option that has not been available to non-profits. Nevertheless, phase 1 has been completed and paid for, with deep thanks to our generous donors, grantors and trades. More than 50% of our Phase 2 capital budget has already been raised!
Phase 2, the commercial kitchen includes many items you might not think of:
-HVAC system for the kitchen area and for the pantry area and offices
-Accessibility upgrades for the washroom and the kitchen area
-Second washroom will be upgraded
-Fire suppression system, stainless steel hood and backsplash
-Non slip flooring in kitchen area
-Reconfiguration of pantry area and offices
-New dining room/student/workshop space
-Increased refrigerator and fast freeze equipment in the storage area