Breaking Barriers Through Meals
When you walk into The Salvation Army in Portage la Prairie, Man., you might catch the scent of delicious meals prepared by members of the Collective Kitchens program. Together, this group fights food insecurity and builds connections between participants from different cultures.
“This group doesn’t just help people feed their families, it builds community.”
With help from a facilitator, Collective Kitchens teaches guests how to make five freezer-friendly meals each month, all for just $5 per family member. Some are already food bank clients, so the meals they prepare and take home go a long way toward supporting their food security.
Beyond cooking, the program also focuses on budgeting.
“The goal is to learn how to budget with what they can afford. Facilitators help them go through flyers, spot sales and figure out what they can buy, making each dollar and meal stretch further. They also learn new meal ideas from one another,” says Auxiliary-Lieutenant Justina Hammill, ministry unit leader at The Salvation Army in Portage la Prairie.
With the $5 collected from each family, the group shops together for ingredients and decides on meals as a team. Many newcomers are part of the program, which means the meals reflect a mix of cultures despite language barriers.
“Some wouldn’t make it through the month without what we offer.”
“Many of them use translation apps to communicate. It’s really neat. Everyone brings their culture into the kitchen, and you see different ideas and kinds of food coming together,” Lieutenant Justina adds.
Many friendships have flourished thanks to this program.
“This group doesn’t just help people feed their families, it builds community. After we’re done, they leave with new friends. The atmosphere is fun, there’s lots of laughter,” she says. “People rely on this program for food. Some wouldn’t make it through the month without what we offer.”
Because of the growing need for food support due to the rising cost of living, Collective Kitchens runs year-round. Despite the challenges many food bank clients face, Collective Kitchens eases some of that burden. It’s also become a place for friendship and connection.
By Juan Romero
