The Kettle Society

BIG THANK YOU to ! 🙌

We're absolutely thrilled to give a massive shoutout to the amazing team at Savoury Chef for their incredibly generous donation of nearly 300 meal packs - complete with sandwiches, fresh salads, brownies, and nutritious burrito bowls!

These delicious meals will make such a difference for the members we serve at our Drop-In Centre. Thank you for helping us fuel our mission! 💚

June 21st is National Indigenous Peoples Day, a time to recognize and celebrate the history, cultures, and teachings of First Nations, Inuit, and Métis Peoples. It is also an opportunity for non-Indigenous people to reflect on our own roles in reconciliation: how are we decolonizing our worldview, and how does that show up in the work we do and the choices we make every day?

Reconciliation is more than a word - it requires action, intention, and a commitment to ongoing learning through Indigenous perspectives while challenging and unlearning colonial narratives.

To honour National Indigenous Peoples Day, consider attending one of these events happening around the city:

📍Carnegie Community Centre Block Party - Sunday, June 21, 401 Main Street, 10:00am – 2:00pm

📍Bill Reid Gallery Summer Market - Saturday, June 20, 639 Hornby Street, 11:00am – 4:00pm

📍Grandview Park celebration - Sunday, June 21, 1657 Charles Street, 12:00pm – 4:00pm

📍Kilala Lelum celebration - Friday, June 19, Princess Avenue between Powell Street and Cordova Street, 1:00pm - 3:00pm

📚 We're thrilled to highlight a wonderful partnership that's been brightening our community since last fall. Every last Tuesday of the month, Sarah from the Vancouver Public Library's Britannia Branch visits the Recovery Café to connect with our members and share the gift of reading and resources. Sarah stops by with a carefully curated selection of treasures - books, magazines, video games, and other goodies that she shares freely with our members. Any books that don't find a home become part of our growing café library, adding to the resources available to everyone who walks through our doors.

During her visits, Sarah also offers practical support with library cards and helps members navigate fines. She meets people where they are, removing barriers to accessing the library's full range of services.

We're deeply grateful for Sarah and the Vancouver Public Library for this partnership that helps us celebrate literacy and foster a love of reading within our Recovery Café community. 📚

Last week, we had the pleasure of hosting two open house events at our Drop-In Centre – welcoming our incredible community of supporters into the 'heart of The Kettle' to learn first-hand how their support makes our work possible.

We started each event with a tour of the facility, followed by a Q&A with Kettle members and staff. It was a real, unfiltered conversation about what it means to be part of The Kettle community and the power of genuine connection.

To everyone who joined us: thank you for showing up, for listening, and for caring. Your presence and support fuel what we do every single day.

These events were just the beginning. We're already looking forward to hosting more opportunities to gather together and deepen our community connections. 🫖💚

Our Drop-In needs YOUR help! As temperatures rise, we're stocking up on essentials to keep our members safe and comfortable.

We're looking for donations of:
- Shorts & T-shirts (M, L, XL, XXL preferred)
- Flip-flops & sandals
- Bottled water
- Freezies

How to help:
📍 Drop off at 1725 Venables Street
📞 Questions? Call 604-251-2854

Every item donated makes a big difference and we thank you for helping us keep our neighbours cool!

🌱🥕 🍅Spring has sprung at the Recovery Cafe community garden! Our plots are thriving again, and this year we're expanding with more garden beds than ever before.

Cafe members have been busy nurturing a diverse range of vegetables and plants - from leafy greens and herbs to seasonal favourites. A few weeks ago for Earth Day, members also came together for a special ceremonial planting, a meaningful moment to reflect on why these spaces matter so deeply to us.

Community gardens like ours are about so much more than growing food. They're about building connections, nurturing growth together, and honouring the beauty of nature. 🍅🥕🌱

Today, May 5th, is Red Dress Day, a National Day of Remembrance and a call to action honouring Missing and Murdered Indigenous 2SLGBTQIA+ People.

The movement started in 2010 when Metis artist Jaime Black created the REDress Project, an art installation using the red dress as a symbol to shine a light on the crisis of violence against Indigenous 2SLGBTQIA+ People across Canada. Since then, it's grown into a worldwide movement demanding justice and accountability.

Every red dress today represents a life, a family still searching, and a demand for real change. Wearing red on May 5th matters. But it's just the start.

We encourage you to:
- Continue learning and amplify conversations about Missing and Murdered Indigenous 2SLGBTQIA+ People
- Support Indigenous-led organizations working toward justice and healing
- Commit to reconciliation every day

Mental health isn’t just about what we’re dealing with individually — it’s also about how connected we feel to one another. This May 4–10, CMHA’s Mental Health Week is calling on all of us to Come Together, Canada. Through small, everyday actions of connection, we can strengthen mental health, reduce loneliness, and build healthier communities. Because connection strengthens mental health.

At The Kettle, we witness this every single day. In our housing programs, at our Drop-In, in our Recovery Cafe—every space we operate is built on the belief that connection heals.

Whether you're reaching out to a friend, showing up for someone in your community, or simply being present, you're already part of the solution.

CMHA National

Our Drop-In just got a fresh new look! We're so excited to unveil our repainted second floor! It’s now even brighter and more welcoming for our community.

This beautiful refresh is only possible because of Reaching Home, whose generous support made this project a reality. Thank you for believing in spaces where our community feels seen and valued.

This past weekend, The Kettle team hit the streets for the Vancouver Sun Run, and wow, what an incredible day it was! 🌞

We were so honoured to be one of the official charity partners for this year's race, and seeing the city come together for this event was truly inspiring. From early morning energy to the triumphant finish line celebrations, every moment reminded us why we do what we do.

Thank you to everyone who ran, walked, and cheered us on! 💚