Brandon University winds down hosting of ‘Everyone Eats’

The popular ‘Everyone Eats’ program is headed for a new home.

Originally launched at Brandon University’s Harvest Hall, the program will continue to support food security in the community.

“With our very unique pay what you can format and the fact that we were starting from scratch we needed a facility that was willing to roll with us as we developed,” said Ross Robinson, Executive Director of the John Howard Society of Brandon. “We found that at BU.”

Everyone Eats’ new home kitchen at Prairie Oasis is a better size to sustain it over the long term. Harvest Hall will return its main focus to campus food services, like residence meals, Covid-friendly boxed lunches and prepared takeaway food, as well as on city-wide catering services, and pantry staples like jams and preserves.

“Everyone Eats has been a great partnership, really unique and filling a genuine need in the community,” said Nicholas Namespetra, Manager of Food Services at Brandon University. “We were honoured to help get this program up and running and will always be there to step up to support our community.”

He said that providing three unique hot and nutritious meals at an affordable price point every week was a fun and engaging challenge, but he is especially proud of the Thanksgiving and Christmas dinners.

“The pandemic made everything tougher, but it was a particular blow to holiday dinners,” he said. “Not only were families asked to avoid their traditional gatherings, but community suppers were also on hiatus.”

At Christmas, Harvest Hall was able to create more than 1,500 turkey dinners, with all the trimmings, for delivery through Everyone Eats.

“Our dedicated clients are proof to us that the meals BU created were very much in line with the home-cooked product we were looking for,” Robinson said. “Week after week Everyone Eats consistently provided hot nutritious and tasty meals, which was the mission The John Howard Society of Brandon had at the start of COVID.”

However, on a typical weekly basis, the massive BU kitchen was more than Everyone Eats needed.

“We always knew the partnership wouldn’t be permanent. The time is right, and we’re happy to see them move to a new home and run the program on their own,” Namespetra said. “This move will help Everyone Eats continue to do the most important thing — support food security in our community.”

Before Everyone Eats makes the official move at the end of the month, Namespetra promises four weeks of great meals for their final stint at BU.

“We’re going to go out with a bang, and give them the best possible push for continued success!”

 

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