About Potluck

The mission of Potluck Café Society is to transform lives by creating jobs and providing healthy food for people living in Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside.

An award–winning social enterprise, Potluck Café Society (a registered charity) owns and operates Potluck Café & Catering, a thriving business that employs neighbourhood residents and provides up to twenty five percent of the operating revenue required to run the Society’s ongoing programs.

We’ve been doing this work since 2001, and are proud to be both a leader and a collaborator in a movement that uses training and employment as a dignified means of helping people regain their confidence, skills, and economic independence.

Mission & Values

The mission of Potluck Café Society is to transform lives by creating jobs and providing healthy food for people living in Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside.

Values

  • Innovation
  • Sustainability
  • Excellence
  • Leadership
  • Collaboration
  • Acceptance

Meet the team

Potluck Café Society and our catering business are fueled a group of talented, passionate staff and board of directors.

Leadership

Executive Director

Trish Kelly

Trish Kelly worked in the food retail and distribution sector for twenty years before joining the nonprofit sector. Her personal experience of poverty and food insecurity drives her to improve the food system for Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside.

General Manager

Naved Noorani

Over the years, Naved has lead teams in Dubai, Denver, Fort McMurray and most recently, he was Director of Catering & Conference Services at the Fairmont Pacific Rim. Outside work, he has a passion for photography, travel and cooking.

Board of Directors

Board member at large

Michael Blatchford

Board member at large

Lindsay Miles–Pickup

Board member at large

Alex Nixon

Board member at large

Rob Scali

Board member at large

Maz Artang

Board member at large for Potluck Catering

Kelleen Wiseman

Board co–chair

Dennis Green

Board co–chair

Naseam Ahmadi

Board secretary

Alex Minard

Staff

Catering Manager

Amanda Slater

A food lover with an entrepreneurial spirit and a Holistic Nutritionist’s trained eye, Amanda is a strong advocate for social enterprise and great customer experience.

Chef de Cuisine

Ian Thompson

Ian worked for many years in hotels and fine dining before landing at Potluck, where his passion for excellent food and his sense of empathy have earned our kitchen team’s unwavering loyalty.

Program Manager

Dounia Saeme

Dounia leads the DTES Kitchen Tables, ensuring residents in the DTES have dignified access to nutritious food. Before joining Potluck in 2017, Dounia completed her Masters in Applied Economics from the University of California Berkeley.

Careers

Coffee’s always on at Potluck. Community members can drop by with a resume, or contact our Employment Support Worker at 778.688.0363 to discuss possible openings. Here’s a list of our current openings.

Part Time

Dishwasher — Potluck Café Society

Position: Dishwasher—Potluck Café Society
Reporting to: Chef de Cuisine
Direct Reports: none
Details: Hourly position at $14 per hour, including extended health benefits after 3 months, gratuities, and annual raises.

Position Description

Our Dishwasher is an important part of our daily kitchen operations, and is a person who takes pride in doing things well.

Summary of Responsibilities
  • Wash dishes and equipment
  • Clean dishwasher, flattop, all fridges, freezers and line equipment, all stainless prep tables, all shelves and other kitchen equipment in the kitchen and back garage area as needed.
  • Clean washrooms daily
  • Sweep and mop floors in Café daily
  • Clean Café windows and doors as needed or requested
  • Put up and take down chairs from Café tables at closing
  • Take out garbage regularly
  • Sort and take out hard plastics, cans and paper recycling
  • Flatten boxes for recycling
  • Put away all clean dishes and equipment in their assigned areas
  • Ensure there is a bus pan with soapy water for the soaking of cutlery before washing
  • Polish dry cutlery to remove spots if needed
  • Help coworkers as requested
  • Other duties as assigned
Qualifications
  • Punctual, responsible and dependable
  • Understanding and awareness of DTES community residents needs and challenges
  • Understanding of Food Safe practice, Food Safe Level One an asset
  • Ability to follow instructions
  • Friendly and ability to work well with coworkers or independently
  • Organized with the ability to manage time and multitask
  • Flexible and adaptable
  • Attention to personal cleanliness and hygiene
  • Willingness to work with people with barriers to traditional employment
  • Possesses effective communication skills
  • Ability to lift 40 lbs
  • Ability to stand for a six to eight hour shift

Interested in working with us?

The coffee is always on. Drop by or drop us a line.

Get in touch
  • Order Help 604.609.7368
  • After Hours Emergencies 778.998.0363

© 2018 Potluck Catering