‘This is home’: Vancouver Downtown Eastside lifeline at risk of shutting down

For over 25 years, the Potluck Cafe Society has been serving Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside in more ways than one.

On top of providing thousands of meals each month, the non-profit also offers jobs, training, and dignity to people facing addiction, homelessness, and mental-health challenges.

The charity runs a catering company whose profits fund its social programs.

“We employ 46 people with barriers to employment,” said Maz Artang, board chair for Potluck Cafe Society.

Over the past year, Artang says rising costs, the loss of two major contracts, and a drop in donations have pushed the charity into crisis, with it needing to raise $100,000 by mid-October or risk shutting down.

“We need to raise a hundred thousand dollars by October 15th in order to keep our doors open. So it’s dire.”