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Sponsor a Meal

Through our meal program we provide 300+ meals a day to residents of our shelter, directly to community members through our food truck, and by supporting other small service organizations.

During the redevelopment of our building, we have transitioned our Community Meal Program to our First United Food Truck!

If you’re looking for a way to boost corporate citizenship, engage in team building, celebrate a special event, and support life-saving work in the Downtown Eastside, look no further than a Food Truck Lunch Engagement at First United!

Anyone can sign up as a meal sponsor – businesses, community or faith groups, families, and individuals are all welcome. Meal sponsorships provide critically-needed funds that support our ongoing work to serve the Downtown Eastside community and a volunteer/employee engagement opportunity for a team of 8 to assist in serving lunch from the food truck. Meal sponsorships cost $2,500 which directly supports the cost of our meal program.

For $2,500 all meal sponsorships include:

  • A community lunch for up to 250 community members
  • A volunteer/employee engagement experience for a group of 8 where you join our staff in serving a community lunch, organizing, and tidying up.
  • A community education session in which a member of FIRST UNITED staff will present on an area of our work, what it’s like serving the Downtown Eastside, Naloxone training, and/or important social justice issues we’re tackling.
  • Group/organizational acknowledgement and logo placement on site on the day of your lunch service
  • Recognition on the First United website for one-year, in our annual report, and one social media post.
  • Funds from sponsorships directly support the meal program.

(Please note all members of the serving team must be 18 years or older, or if under 18 require parental consent is required.)

Meal sponsorships typically take place on Fridays from 11:00 am – 2:00 pm, and the food truck is parked on the corner of Gore and Hastings. Other weekdays may be available, depending on our ongoing service needs and schedule.

In compliance with CRA regulations, tax receipts are not eligible for sponsorships for businesses. If you’re an individual wishing to participate in a lunch engagement, you may be eligible for a charitable tax receipt for your contribution.

To make arrangements and to discuss further, email [email protected] or call 604.336.3047.

“Odlum Brown has been a proud supporter of FIRST UNITED's impactful work on the Downtown Eastside since 2017. Our team members had the pleasure of volunteering for their Food Truck Lunch Engagement, and everyone walked away feeling like they made a true difference in the community. Seeing firsthand how our donation of time and resources impacts the lives around us was an invaluable experience.”

-Odlum Brown