Ex-street kid bootstrapping a community initiative
Donation protected
Hey, I'm Dani, myself and Len, an awesome guy who owns a pop up spot and catering kitchen on college st, decided to start up a grassroots community initiative, to source unwanted or unused produce and supplies from restaurants and distributers in order to provide food and meals to those most in need.
I'm partnered with st.francis table in parkdale. There's also street outreach contacting me for soups and small packages meals. We also did a Q and A with Toronto life, basically letting them know what we're about, and who I am, linked below.
https://torontolife.com/food/there-was-a-need-to-be-filled-a-qa-with-chef-danielle-bassett-who-is-boot-strapping-a-community-kitchen-to-feed-hundreds-of-torontonians/
It's been a crazy and epic two weeks, going from having 2 jobs,and 3rd offer for the summer...to having no job,no money, and no idea of what I was going to do to get by. I topped up my phone put my last 40 bucks on my presto transit card, and went to meet Len to talk about him giving me his production kitchen on loan for free. I literally had nothing to lose . I reached out to friends in industry,and they reached out, and now we're getting totally ready to rock and roll.
I've already been giving out small little bundles of tasty love, to those hard hit by this crisis in industry, bartenders,Linecooks,chefs,tattoo artists,single moms,elderly people afraid to shop, and on a fixed income.
Every single one, has been so overcome with gratitude,and in turn has offered to contact who they know to see if they can help,or donate goods. Were teaming up with Taste Toronto to see who we can reach out to for sponsorship of a funding initiative to save our staff families from eviction,and if big enough,our restaurants(our family homes)
Every little bit helps,no little deed of kindness is ignored.
This initiative also allows us unemployed chefs to be able to still do what we most love, cooking up some great food,getting creative, and feeding the hungry.
With just some soup or pasta and wholesome crusty bread...were not just filling bellies anymore, were filling hearts with hope.
Were showing the rest of our city, and maybe the world over, what this industry is really about.
We're a community of driven, talented unique individuals, with heart and passion, still doing what gives us life, cooking food.
As with any such ventures, unexpected costs can sometimes arise...
One of our fridges has given out, and while I am trying to get a second hand one donated, food is coming in,and needs a place to go.
We also need a hand blender that is restaurant or industrial strength, as we make a lot of soups and sauces to donate to shelters and community food programs, and the one we had died 2 days ago.
I know right now, money is tight, and it's a lot to ask, but I need this project to succeed. It's done a lot of good for our community, and will continue to help many more in the uncertain times to come.
So if you can, please donate.. and if you can't please stay safe, healthy, and happy with your loved ones, till we can all be out together again.
Chef,D
❤️
I'm partnered with st.francis table in parkdale. There's also street outreach contacting me for soups and small packages meals. We also did a Q and A with Toronto life, basically letting them know what we're about, and who I am, linked below.
https://torontolife.com/food/there-was-a-need-to-be-filled-a-qa-with-chef-danielle-bassett-who-is-boot-strapping-a-community-kitchen-to-feed-hundreds-of-torontonians/
It's been a crazy and epic two weeks, going from having 2 jobs,and 3rd offer for the summer...to having no job,no money, and no idea of what I was going to do to get by. I topped up my phone put my last 40 bucks on my presto transit card, and went to meet Len to talk about him giving me his production kitchen on loan for free. I literally had nothing to lose . I reached out to friends in industry,and they reached out, and now we're getting totally ready to rock and roll.
I've already been giving out small little bundles of tasty love, to those hard hit by this crisis in industry, bartenders,Linecooks,chefs,tattoo artists,single moms,elderly people afraid to shop, and on a fixed income.
Every single one, has been so overcome with gratitude,and in turn has offered to contact who they know to see if they can help,or donate goods. Were teaming up with Taste Toronto to see who we can reach out to for sponsorship of a funding initiative to save our staff families from eviction,and if big enough,our restaurants(our family homes)
Every little bit helps,no little deed of kindness is ignored.
This initiative also allows us unemployed chefs to be able to still do what we most love, cooking up some great food,getting creative, and feeding the hungry.
With just some soup or pasta and wholesome crusty bread...were not just filling bellies anymore, were filling hearts with hope.
Were showing the rest of our city, and maybe the world over, what this industry is really about.
We're a community of driven, talented unique individuals, with heart and passion, still doing what gives us life, cooking food.
As with any such ventures, unexpected costs can sometimes arise...
One of our fridges has given out, and while I am trying to get a second hand one donated, food is coming in,and needs a place to go.
We also need a hand blender that is restaurant or industrial strength, as we make a lot of soups and sauces to donate to shelters and community food programs, and the one we had died 2 days ago.
I know right now, money is tight, and it's a lot to ask, but I need this project to succeed. It's done a lot of good for our community, and will continue to help many more in the uncertain times to come.
So if you can, please donate.. and if you can't please stay safe, healthy, and happy with your loved ones, till we can all be out together again.
Chef,D
❤️
Organizer
Danielle Bassett
Organizer
East York, ON