Project History: Mind, Body, & Spirit began in the spring of 2004. The onset of the project was to provide participants with an opportunity to gain/enhance their skills in food preparation. Initially, the project provided nutritious lunches for smaller groups, but has changed to provide nutritious lunches to members of HOS and to those who are homeless and at risk of being homeless. The participation rates for this project have risen from 5% - 80% in just over three years. Presently, the project continues to provide participants with an opportunity to enhance their skills in food safety, nutrition, food preparation, and economical budgeting.
Project Objectives: Through daily, hands-on participant driven meal preparation sessions: the project provides, enables, and motivates Aboriginal homeless (and at risk of being homeless) men and women infected by (and at risk) of HIV/AIDS within the Greater Vancouver Region a healthy and nutritious meal.
These daily meals are important to their health and well-being. These meals are served five days a week and include items such as soups, salads, sandwiches, hot meals, breakfasts every 2nd Friday, and bannock most of the time! Participants are also provided with a multivitamin at each meal.
Some of the activities include:
- Nutritional planning
- Food preparation
- Food safety
- Grocery shopping
- Setting-up and setting-down the eating area
- Cleaning the kitchen
- Bi-weekly: a different person helps out with the cooking staff to improve their skills
- Outings to various locations in the Vancouver area (we bring lunch!)
The lunch project is offered to anyone who comes to Healing Our Spirit and will not be turned away. Lunch project participant are requested to treat the program staff, equipment, and HOS property in a respectful manner. Participants who are disrespectful to each other, our staff, and or property will be asked to leave.
Lunches are provided:
Monday: 12:00 - 1:00 p.m. (brown bag lunch)
Tuesday: 12:00 - 1:00 p.m. (hot lunch)
Wednesday: 12:00 – 1:00 p.m. (brown bag lunch)
Thursday: 12:00 – 1:00 p.m. (hot lunch)
Friday: 12:00 – 12:30 (continenal bag lunch)
Breakfasts are also served every 2nd Friday at 10:30am
There will be no lunches provided on statutory holidays/office closures.
Catering Services: Mind, Body, & Spirit also provides catering services to groups and organizations in the Greater Vancouver Regional District and surrounding areas. Funds that are generated from our catering service go directly into our Aboriginal Person’s Living with HIV/AIDS (APHA) Emergency Fund. A sample of the types of food we can cater for events include:
- Traditional Aboriginal feast style meals such as seafood, wild venison, and berries /fruits
- Canadian style such as deli style sandwiches, prepared hot meals such as turkey, roast beef, pork etc
- Fresh baked home-made breads and baked goods such as berry pastries, west-coast style fried bread, and plains style bannock
For more information about our program and catering services please feel free to call Sylvia Dennis who is the Mind, Body, & Spirit Coordinator at Healing Our Spirit.
