JHC Community Food Kitchen

The JHC Community Kitchen was created as a way to bring people together to help feed our fellow humans as the pandemic exacerbated financial and food insecurity in our city and across the world. We have found that access to nutritious food is pushed to the margins for many people in our communities. Over the last 16 months many people have stepped up to cook meals in their homes to help people in their neighborhoods.  We saw this opportunity to bring people out of their homes into a safe community kitchen space to leverage their cooking skills to make beautiful meals each week. We found that people really needed community connection after the isolation of the last year. For people that love to cook, it has proven to be a mental health break to be able to cook together, chat and get to know other people in the community. 

Through our partnership with Edmonton’s Food Bank we were able to source local fresh ingredients that may otherwise go to waste. Our ‘go to’ meal was bison chilli, with fresh roasted veggies based on what was available that week. We also made vegetarian dishes and dairy free dishes to accommodate dietary and cultural needs.

 The response from volunteers was overwhelming, we are continually amazed by the strength of community coming together in times of need. With the help of many incredible volunteers, we have been able to cook 200 meals each week for anyone that needs it, without barriers. 

  Over the last year, we learned a lot about the incredible food systems in the city and where there are areas that need to be strengthened. One of those areas is barrier-free, trauma informed access to nutritious food. Over the course of the pandemic, we have seen many mutual aid networks emerging to fill the gaps in those areas that leave people behind. We are inspired by these networks and will continue to support them in any way we can.

 JHC is committed to helping support and strengthen local food communities across the city that increase access to food without barriers. Through a generous contribution from Edmonton Community Foundation, we were able to rent space at a commercial kitchen to help support a local community centre. Moving forward we are seeking donated kitchen space to continue this work and expand to other neighbourhoods. 

We are working to create a toolkit to help guide those that would like to start a Community Kitchen in their communities.  Please check out our website in August for more details.