Shepherds of Good Hope and Shepherds of Good Hope Foundation
Announce Appointment of
Feeding Hope: Shepherds of Good Hope Transforms Surplus Comfort Food into Holiday Warmth
Pizza, hot dogs, fresh salads, chicken parmesan and other chef-prepared meals filled the plates of people visiting Shepherds of Good Hope’s community kitchen during the year-end holiday season.
From December 26 to January 5, Shepherds of Good Hope partnered with Ottawa Tourism, La Tablée des Chefs, Lionhearts Inc., TD Place, The Delta Hotel Ottawa City Centre, and other hotel partners to recover surplus food from the IIHF World Junior hockey tournament. This initiative brought professionally prepared meals to Ottawa’s most vulnerable, providing warmth and nourishment during the holiday season.
The food recovery campaign, organized by Ottawa Tourism and supported by Chef Peter Gareau of Shepherds of Good Hope in partnership with Stephen La Salle, former executive chef at Lionhearts Inc., ensured surplus food from the venues across the city was collected and redistributed to the most vulnerable populations and individuals experiencing homelessness.
This initiative addresses food insecurity at a time when rising food prices are making it increasingly difficult for vulnerable populations to maintain consistent access to nutritious meals. It also highlights the importance of social and environmental sustainability.
“This is the first time we’ve done something like this,” said Gareau. “Can you imagine if 75 to 80 per cent of all the food we’re using is coming from outside sources and it’s quality stuff that normally just gets thrown away?
“When you do a banquet for 700 or 800 people, there’s a lot of leftovers. Every time it provides a meal for us, that’s like $400 saved.” said Gareau.
A large part of Shepherds food supply comes from the Ottawa Food Bank. However, with food banks facing overwhelming demand, more people are now turning directly to the shelter for help. “It all gets downloaded on us,” Chef Gareau explained.
“Every dollar we save can go into a program that’s needed,” Gareau said, adding that he hopes to promote the program in order for it to become a year-long thing. “Anywhere we can stretch a dollar or get a donation, I’m willing to do it.”
Providing warm, freshly prepared meals during the holiday season brings comfort, a sense of inclusion, and hope.
Ottawa is a giving community that cares for and supports people experiencing homelessness. Shepherds of Good Hope thanks everyone who made this initiative possible—from the chefs, line cooks, sous-chefs, managers, delivery drivers and of course, volunteers, donors and organizations.
To support Shepherds of Good Hope, visit www.sghottawa.com/donate.
For more media coverage about the program: