Lots Cooking at ROCKS…. And We’re Just Getting started!

There’s a lot happening at ROCKS right now! Our community dinners are returning, our new kitchen is taking shape, food recovery is growing, and we’re finding new ways to connect and collaborate across Whistler. Here’s a look at what we’ve been up to and what’s coming next.

We’re Back! Community Meals Restart December 7

Exciting news! ROCKS community meals are returning on Monday, December 7, at the Whistler Mountain Ski Club.  We’ll be getting together every two weeks to cook, share a hot meal and bring our community together again.

Whether you join us regularly, are coming for the first time, or just want to lend a hand, there’s a warm welcome for you at ROCKS.  Reservations are encouraged so we can plan accordingly.

Want to volunteer? Our volunteer shifts are now posted on Vome, and we’re looking forward to reconnecting with our ROCKStar volunteers and meeting newcomers.

Our New Kitchen Is Taking Shape!

Behind the scenes we’re working hard to bring our new ROCKS kitchen in Function Junction to life!

There’s been lots to do, from researching and sourcing commercial kitchen equipment to planning the layout and working through the many details that go into creating a functional space for our expanded programs.  

With the generous assistance of volunteer subject matter experts supporting us along the way, we’ve made swift progress. All along, we’re carefully stewarding the incredible angel donation that makes this next chapter possible–researching options, making smart purchasing decisions and stretching every dollar.

Next step is applying for our plumbing permit, another important step in readying the space. We hope to have the kitchen ready in the next few months, and we’re already looking forward to celebrating with a grand opening and fundraising event.  Stay tuned!

Food Recovery: Turning Surplus Into Something Good!

Just last month ROCKS started food recovery through a program called Food Mesh. Every weekend, ROCKS volunteers collect from Fresh St. Market food that would otherwise go to waste. Using (for now) the Chirp Coop kitchen a few doors down, our creative team of volunteers rises to the culinary challenge… cooking, baking and preparing as much of the food as possible. 

It’s fun, reduces food waste, lowers our meal costs and benefits other community organizations too.  So far, we’ve recovered approximately 914 kg of food. That’s just under a metric ton of food!  Here is where it has gone.

We’re continuing to improve how we sort, store and use the food we collect, with the goal of reducing the amount that ends up in compost to zero. There’s a lot of good food out there, and we’re working hard to make sure it gets eaten!

Our Freezer Is Filling Up!

We’ve started building a stock of prepared food to serve future meals and share with other community organizations.  Here’s a taste of what’s tucked away:

• 30 kg of prepared apples – ready for desserts and baking.
• 10 kg of carbonara – with chicken, bacon and mushrooms.  Just add pasta.
• 10 kg of bread pudding with bananas – ready to heat, add cream/ice cream and serve.
• 10 kg of banana bread – 4 hotel pans, already shared at the Ageless expo.
• 20 kg of vegetable pasta sauce – ready to be added to an upcoming meal.
• 10 kg of potato and bacon soup – just heat and serve!
• 8 kg of raspberry brownies – made with thanks to the donation of fudge from Rocky Mountain, these won’t last long!
• 8 kg of turkey, broccoli and cheese bake – have with pasta or with a baked potato.
• 30 kg of sausage, vegetable and potato cheese bake – so delicious and warming!
• Plus chicken, bacon, mushrooms, carrots and bananas, all ready to add to our next cooking session.

If you want to be part of our Sunday Cooking sessions, please sign up through Vome. If Sundays don’t work for you, reach out and we’ll see what we can do.

What’s Next for Food Recovery?

We’re connecting with organizations interested in receiving some of this recovered and prepared food.

The goal is to grow beyond our own community dinners and find even more ways to get nutritious food into the hands of people who need it.

It’s early days, but we’re excited about the possibilities. As food recovery becomes an important part of ROCKS mission to eliminate food insecurity in Whistler, we’re looking forward to seeing what we can accomplish.

Our AGM, Board & Website Updates

We recently held our Annual General Meeting with a wonderful group of people who share the ROCKS vision and are committed to helping us grow. We’re grateful to everyone who took the time to participate and support the next chapter of ROCKS. Take a peek at the slides we shared, looking back at our journey to date.

We’re also pleased to welcome Joseph Harkins to the Board of Directors as our sixth Board member, bringing valuable experience and perspective to the team.

We did a little refresh to the ROCKS website, including the Thank You page which is especially important to us — it’s where we recognize the individuals, businesses and organizations whose generosity keeps ROCKS going. Take a look, meet some of the people and organizations who make it possible, and see the incredible community support behind ROCKS!

Take a look and let us know what you think!

A Happy Halloween 

Our October 26 Halloween dinner was sponsored by Interact Whistler, following a fundraising event they held on our behalf back in the spring.

We served 72 guests and had 20 incredible volunteers (including many young Interacters) for a total 92 meals served — plus around 20 extra portions that went home with some very happy chili lovers!

This was chili at its finest, thanks to Jessie. Arriving to volunteer, she asked, “Who’s head chef?” Told with a grin that it was her, she rose to the occasion with her usual aplomb and superb results.

The dinner cost was just $407, including venue hire, while guest donations totalled $751. That means we finished with a $344 surplus — the first time guest donations have covered the full cost of a meal and more! Guest donations go into our Pay It Forward bucket to support future meals. 

Combined with other dinner contributions, we currently have over $10,000 in the Pay It Forward bucket.  Thank you to everyone who puts a little something in the bucket. It really does add up.

Thank You for Being Part of ROCKS!

Whether you volunteer, donate, sponsor a meal, share our posts, contribute food or simply come along and enjoy a meal, you’re part of what makes ROCKS work.

We’re looking forward to another season of good food, good people and a stronger community.

See you December 7!

The ROCKS Team