Community meals at Reception House are an opportunity for community members from all walks of life to welcome refugee families who are new to our region. Community meal hosts are invited to share a home cooked (or store bought) meal with refugees who have just arrived to Canada. Community dinners take place at our temporary residence site on David St. across from Victoria Park where families live during their first 2-4 weeks upon arrival to Canada. Meal hosts are invited to bring games, activities, songs or just the meal. Staff help facilitate conversation across language barriers. We welcome potential meal hosts to register with our volunteer services coordinator at volunteer@receptionhouse.ca. Community meals are held once a month.
Considering a volunteer position at Reception House, but want some exposure to the families that we serve before you make a longer term commitment? This is a great place to start. Let us know what programs you are interested in, and our staff will come prepared to share information and answer questions.
Frequently Asked Questions
When and where do Community meals take place?
Community Meals take place once a month typically on Thursdays at 101 David St. Volunteers can prepare a lunch or dinner.
Arrival is a half an hour before serving. Lunch is at 12 p.m. and dinner at 6 p.m. Other arrangements can be made by request.
Can my workplace or a corporate group prepare a meal?
Yes, you are more than welcome to bring a group of coworkers or friends. Due to space limitations, we ask that the meal host group be no larger than 6 people.
What types of dietary restrictions should I consider?
We recommend always buying halal meat and avoiding pork. You can also choose to prepare a vegetarian meal.
Kishki World Foods on Highland Road and Ammar Halal Meats on Lancaster St West specialize in hala meat, however, you can also find Halal food in your local grocery store – just look for it on the packaging.
We also recommend keeping all sauces, gravys and strong seasonings on the side so that guests can decide whether or not they want to add them. Plain dishes with optional add-ons are the best bet for the diversity of pallets. Having an ingredients list can be helpful to avoid allergies, or confusion around dietary restrictions.
Can I prepare the meal at Reception House?
Can my family prepare a meal?
Can I volunteer to cook meals every month?
The aim of Community meals is to give many different community members the chance to meet with and welcome newcomer families. For this reason we do not offer community dinners as an ongoing volunteer placement. We do however have many volunteer programs that do require an ongoing commitment. If you are interested in learning more, contact our Coordinator of Volunteer Services Tracy at: volunteer@receptionhouse.ca
When should I call Reception House to confirm how many people will be at the meal?