Weekly family dinner drop-in

James Bay Community Project

By Janessa Bate, Youth & Family Outreach Worker

Every Tuesday at James Bay Community Project at around 3:00, several volunteers arrive to help with the weekly Family Dinner Drop-In program. These volunteers commit a few hours of their free time every week to building a sense of community for families, and it really could not happen without them. Shortly after 3:00, amazing smells start coming from the kitchen. The volunteers are helping to create a meal that will feed 15-20 people, including children from newborns to 10 years old.

At 4:00, the families begin arriving. Before dinner, children and adults have the opportunity to do a craft or art project, play outside, and use all the toys we have available in our large and sunny Family Centre. Often, the adults will be the ones left around the craft table completing their projects after the children have lost interest! Adults can also enjoy a cup of coffee or tea, and a chance to sit down for a chat while their children are playing with each other.

At about 5:15, we begin cleaning up the mess we have made and getting ready to sit down for dinner. Parents help support each other with the challenges that might come up: getting kids to stay seated at the table, for example, or getting them to eat their vegetables. The families, volunteers, and staff sit down together and eat the delicious meal that has been made.

Sometimes, parents have taken the opportunity to prepare a meal themselves. It has been exciting to see someone make food that is from their culture. We have had parents prepare and share their family recipes, ranging from sushi, to Italian meatballs, and Dutch casseroles.

This program is funded by the Ministry of Children and Family Development. The aim of the program is to build community connections between families so that they may feel more supported in their community. In addition to this funding, we receive food and money donations from BC Housing, Coldstar, and community donors.

The value of this program is huge. Once a week parents can look forward to enjoying a nutritious meal with people who have come to feel like extended family. Many of the families attending are single parent families. An evening where the parents don't have to cook is a welcome break. Parents have come together to share resources including clothing, food, and childcare.

The Family Dinner program in its current fashion has been running for 2 years now. We have our "regulars" who attend almost every week and those we see once in a while. However, new people are always welcome! We welcome families of all kinds with children up to 12 years old. The program is every Tuesday from 4:00 - 6:00 pm. Families are asked to register ahead of time, especially if they have food allergies, by calling Janessa at 250-415-7721. We hope to see you soon!