Everyone Eats initiative makes quality meals available for all

Brandon University (BU) Food Services is teaming up with the Brandon Food Council, the John Howard Society and Assiniboine Community College to provide barrier-free nutritious meals for all.

Everyone Eats is a curbside pickup program that will offer top-quality dinners, prepared by BU Food Services. The trial launch of the initiative will provide 200 meals per day for Wednesday June 10, Thursday June 11 and Friday June 12. On these days, individuals will be able to order chef-inspired meals for themselves and their household with payment by confidential donation of $0 to $100. People who are able are encouraged to Meal it Forward by contributing over and above the suggested donation of $8 per meal.

“Everyone deserves a good, nutritious meal, but a lot of people struggle to feed themselves and their families,” said Nicholas Namespetra, Manager of Food Services. “Layoffs due to the pandemic are only making this problem worse. With Everyone Eats there will be no stigma as everyone who picks up a meal may be in a different situation, and all donations are confidential. The best part is that those who are able can chip in with a larger donation to lend a hand to their neighbours.”

Nicholas Namespetra (photo: Brandon University)

The first Meal of the Day will be available on Wednesday, June 10. Orders may be made online at EveryoneEatsBrandon.ca or by calling 204-727-9652 before 2 p.m., for that day or for all three days. For those who are unable to come for curbside pickup, limited contact-free delivery will be provided by a team of volunteers upon request.

“Going forward, we hope to get enough support to continue Everyone Eats indefinitely,” Namespetra said.

“It is our goal to ensure that quality, nutritious meals are available in a way that affords people dignity.”

Everyone Eats will also be partnering with food retail and food rescue services to supplement the initiative and assist in the reduction of food waste in our region.

“Nicholas has led a significant revamping of our Food Services with an emphasis on the importance of fresh, nutritious and varied meals to a healthy lifestyle,” said Susan Smale, BU’s Director of Business Operations. “We’re happy to see this approach being extended outward so that BU can help to fill a real need in our community.”

(Brandon University News)