How Food Fuels Community at carya’s Village Commons
They say the kitchen is the heart of the home, which is why carya’s Village Commons in East Village Place is designed around its state of the art commercial and teaching kitchen.
Envisioned as a space for people of all walks of life to connect, create and access social supports and resources, the carya team has created a warm and inviting space that is accessible and inviting for all. Since doors opened in 2021, hundreds of Calgarians have visited Village Commons to enjoy a cup of coffee, read a book, take a class or connect with others from the community.
“While food serves one of our most basic needs, it also brings people together – to enjoy a meal, to celebrate, and to connect,”
Chris Grosse, Supervisor of Culinary and Event Curation.
Chris also notes that one of carya’s goals is to “provide a safe space to combat social isolation,” which carya has achieved through the open and collaborative design of their space and culinary programming.
One of carya’s most popular culinary programs is their monthly Chow and Chatter event. Organized by a committee of 17 volunteers, this monthly event hosts approximately 80 people, mostly seniors, which includes a meal, door prizes and a speaker or entertainment. It’s an opportunity for those who might not have much social interaction, or who have limited access to food, to enjoy a home cooked meal with others and to learn about some of the other programs that carya offers.
The Chow and Chatter program was initially founded by the East Village Neighbourhood Association (EVNA) in the Golden Age Club, which occupied the space for many years until before it closed in 2016. At that time, four seniors stepped up to continue the program and it eventually found a new home at Village Commons. In 2021, CMLC donated all proceeds from the East Village merch line to carya to help support programming in the community, including the May edition of their monthly Chow and Chatter event, which took place on May 18.
Another integral part of the space is the complimentary coffee and tea bar (nope you read that right, free community java bar, caffeinators rejoice!). Part of carya’s mission is to build strong communities, which is reflected in their partnership with an EV resident whose family in Colombia has been growing coffee for five generations. Elaine Riddick, the Seniors’ Space Program Coordinator at Village Commons, notes that it's the generosity of volunteers, who devote over 300 hours each month, that keeps Village Commons running, including keeping the coffee bar open and accessible for everyone in the community.
The industrial kitchen facilities are available to rent out and the team has already partnered with other like-minded organizations to provide learning opportunities. One of those groups uses the space to provide food service training to immigrant women to teach them the skills needed to gain employment in the food service industry. Chef Grosse is also working on a youth focused pilot program aimed at those aged 18 – 23 years old.
carya, formerly known as Calgary Family Services, is one of Calgary’s longest-serving social agencies and has been providing support to Calgarians since 1910. Village Commons offers a variety of services and programs ranging from mental health supports, drop-in childcare, art classes to seniors’ coffee chat and games and more.
Click here to learn more about the programs and services offered by carya at Village Commons.