PROVISION COMMUNITY RESTAURANT

Provision has three major tenets through which we conduct our programming: 1) reducing food waste through food rescue and repurpose, 2) reducing food insecurity through free or give-as-you-can meals, and 3) reducing isolation by bringing the community together. In 2020, our programming changed as we were not able to invite guests into our dining space. We began catering for Simpson Housing Services shelter in late March and that became the main focus of all of our resources. We continued to serve the shelter 85 meals per day, 365 days per year. This partnership has allowed us to continue to serve out our mission of addressing food insecurity and to support the efforts of the shelter to keep people out of isolation, safe, and healthy, throughout the entire day rather than only evenings. Our organization is provided some compensation by Simpson in order to off-set some of the expense associated with this endeavor, however, it only covers about 75% of our total cost.

Our Community Kitchen Partners Program: Everything we do at Provision is about food and community. On any given day, between two and four small business owners share space, knowledge, supplies and resources as they grow their businesses, support one another and contribute to Provision's mission through community events such as Sunday Suppers. Our kitchen partner program also supports BIPOC- and women-owned food businesses by eliminating some of the barriers they face in starting and growing their businesses by offering a graduated lease program that is 1/3 or less of market rate and mentorship opportunities.