allsaints Event Space is the newest morsel on the plate of Mealshare, a rapidly expanding charity helping feed youth in need. The announcement from the initiative's Community Leader, Katie Hession, and venue Managing Partner Leanne Moussa was met with resounding applause on November 29th where both passionately spoke of the need for these partnerships not just here in Ottawa but country-wide.
“We are honoured to be able to offer our corporate, wedding, and other event clients a chance to enjoy an exceptional dining experience while giving back through Mealshare,” said Moussa, pointing out that allsaints Chef Kyle Mortimer-Proulx will help spearhead the vision of providing healthy, delicious food for all.
Hession explains that it all works on the concept of buy one, get one, meaning that when a Mealshare item is ordered, another is served to a hungry youth via the program’s charity partners. Places like Art-Is-In Bakery, for example, note these items with the Mealshare logo on their menus. Before being directly involved, Hession noticed this logo while ordering lunch one day and, after a bit of research, knew she wanted to be a part of the program.
“I saw the job posting online under the title Dream Job and it immediately caught my attention,” says Hession. “I’ve always looked for opportunities to use my network and social media presence on @yowcitystyle for a purpose to give back to the community and I knew I would be able to really help Mealshare grow their presence in Ottawa.”
“This is where my being an active foodie and influencer in Ottawa comes in handy!
"When I explain how the program works and how easy it is for a restaurant to involve their customers with their philanthropic actions, restaurant owners love the idea and often wonder why every restaurant isn’t doing it. Since taking on the role in February, I’ve been able to bring on 40 new restaurant partners and nearly double the number of meals we’ve provided through Ottawa restaurants”
In May Mealshare surpassed more than two million meals served in Canada. 100,000 of those were in Ottawa and Hession says they are now close to cracking 200K! Restaurants like Beckta, Oz Kafe, Lollo, and The Senate Tavern are just some of the places that have signed on for the cause, one Shauna Bradley of The Heart and Crown calls a “no brainer”.
With the various locations of the Heart and Crown always being community oriented since the first opening in 1992, this program caught Bradley’s eye because of how simple it was to give back as well as how wonderful it made those working their feel. They were making a difference along with making some tasty meals.
“Mealshare allows our staff to feel good about doing their job by giving them a sense of community,” says Bradley, adding that 3-5 members of her team volunteer each month at one of Mealshare’s charities. “It lets our staff see, first hand, what kind of impact they’re making. It also makes our guests feel good about dining out.”
The charity the Heart and Crown linked up with is Operation Come Home, an employment, education, and support centre for homeless and at-risk youth age 16 and up. Their work with the organization has shown firsthand the kind of impact Mealshare makes. Prior to receiving this support, the centre relied on food from the FoodBank. They did not have a budget to purchase notorious meals.
“As a result of Mealshare, the youth are now provided with good quality meals that keeps them going when they need them the most,” relays Operation Come Home’s Executive Director, Espeth McKay. As the original charity chosen by the program , her team was instrumental in getting some much needed funding for it to start up here in the Capital. McKay and Mealshare co-owner Jeremy Bryant spent six months laying down the foundation.
Now, she says:
“(Because of Mealshare) more than 550 youth on an annual basis have access to good quality meals and brown bag lunches to go.”
Hession says that the program has completely filled the food budget for not only Operation Come Home but also the Parkdale Food Centre. New restaurants like Pelican Seafood Market and Grill continue to expand their reach.
“As we bring on more partners and are able to serve more meals, we are slowly making our way to being able to provide the food budget for all of the Boys & Girls Club of Ottawa’s clubhouses. These meals are the handshake in the door for youth who are at-risk, homeless or come from families who are facing a multitude of barriers to then receive all kinds of services to help ensure a brighter future,” says Hession.
She breaks down how the public can help with some stats. We’re in a world where 1 million Canadians access food security programs every month yet 8 million dine out daily. What a difference purchasing a Mealshare item could make!
“Next time you’re making those plans for brunch, lunch or dinner, head to our website (www.mealshare.ca) to find a list of our partner restaurants. While you’re there, tell your server how awesome it is that they are a Mealshare partner and snap a photo of your meal for social media to help us spread the good Mealshare word!”
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