CMHA Kelowna teams up with restaurants to feed the vulnerable

Canadian Mental Health Association Kelowna has teamed up with local restaurant owners to feed vulnerable people during the COVID-19 pandemic.

CMHA Kelowna provides meals year-round to vulnerable people but because of COVID-19, their kitchen has increased meal provisions.

CMHA Kelowna is currently providing 1,750 meals a week on their own to their supportive housing buildings and program participants, as well as 375 bagged lunches to the West Kelowna Shelter Society and other individuals experiencing homelessness.

Recently, CMHA Kelowna partnered with The Table Cafe at Codfathers Market and The Sandwich Company By Relvas Catering to provide even more meals. This week alone, they prepared about 275 meals. 

"We saw an opportunity to partner with community members who had some capacity and who liked to give back and this is what brought us to Ross," says communications and event manager with CHMA Kelowna Jessica Samuels.

"Really what we're trying to do is provide individuals with healthy meals during this time when accessing a healthy meal can be difficult for really anybody, but really for this population."

The owner of The Table Cafe at Codfathers Market Ross Derrick and the owner of The Sandwich Company Adam Relvas have paired up to create balanced and nutritious meals for the vulnerable community.

"As soon as I got the call from Ross, the opportunity to be able to help out with Canadian Mental Health and help out with our community was huge. I was all over it," says Relvas. "It's an opportunity not only for us to keep our doors open, but a great opportunity for us to give back. So, anytime somebody calls, I try to give back as much as I can."

The meals get picked up three-to-four times a week with the chefs preparing enough for one-to-two days at a time.

"We're going to do what we love to do, we get to cook food," says Derrick. "The recipes I'm cooking today are all my mom's recipes from the 80's and 90's, cause it's really homey, hearty food."

The Table Cafe at Codfathers Market is located at 2355 Gordon Drive, and The Sandwich Company is located in the Landmark 3 building at 1632 Dickson Avenue. Takeout services are available at both restaurants.