In a time when the rising cost of living and shrinkflation is making it more difficult for people to have affordable home-cooked meals, a catering company based in Kawartha Lakes is giving back to the community one meal at a time — or sometimes more than 60 at a time.
Launched just over a year ago by rekindled old friends Tammy Thurston and Charlene Vanderburg, Lindsay’s Board and Nibble Catering Co. serves customers a variety of custom-made grazing platters, food bars, charcuterie bars, dessert cups and more.
All food left over or unused in the platters goes towards Making Meals Matter Kawartha Lakes, an initiative by Thurston and Vanderburg that provides those in need with affordable and nutritious home-cooked meals similar to community food programs.
“I’ve always been close to those programs in the sense that I was a single mom at one point, and I know how quickly it can happen when you need the resources,” says Thurston. “So, when we were in the position to then alleviate that concern for others facing those barriers, that’s what we wanted to do.”
Thurston and Vanderburg launched Making Meals Matter Kawartha Lakes this past spring after seeing the demand for the pay-what-you-can Easter dinners they were doing through Board & Nibble Catering Co.
“There are quite a number of people that suffer from food insecurity and need a little extra help here and there,” says Vanderburg. “When we started seeing how many people were reaching out — wanting not only to support the movement or support the idea of paying it forward, but also the people that were utilizing it — we realized this was really, really needed.”
Vanderburg has been a long-time admin and volunteer for the Buy Nothing Lindsay Facebook group, which offers a connection for locals looking to give away, lend, or share things within the community. Through the group, she has helped families and individuals by connecting them with food banks or by giving away food from her own pantry.
“I got to know a lot of the different group members that had needs,” she says. “I’ve always been blessed with enough and happy to help people.”
Vanderburg notes she has always known how to cook on a budget and to find deals on food, which was something she has continued to do on a larger scale at Board & Nibble to help her round out the meals they give away. Even before launching Making Meals Matter Kawartha Lakes, the company was using the Buy Nothing Lindsay Facebook group to give away food leftovers.
“It’s just always been instilled in my genes that food waste is something I despise, so I had to do something with it,” says Vanderburg.
Through Making Meals Matter Kawartha Lakes, the duo offers a weekly meal funded entirely through donations, prior weekly meals, and the gratuities they get through catering.
After they post to social media channels about the meal, with an affordable set price (roughly $8 to $12), interested parties can sign up and transfer payment on the spot, or pay when picking up the meals at the People’s Full Gospel Church at 20 Cambridge Street North in Lindsay. Those who are able to do so can also buy a meal for someone else.
Those facing economic barriers can then get a meal at a pay-what-you-can price point or have one of the paid meals, depending on their circumstances. The meals are provided on a no-questions-asked trust system.
“There’s a lot of single moms that are having a hard time making ends meet and having fresh homemade, healthy food,” says Vanderburg, noting the meals have also been popular with seniors.
“If they don’t want to get into cooking their own meals and it’s difficult for family members to do so, homemade options might not otherwise be available to them.”
Since launching Making Meals Matter Kawartha Lakes, Vanderburg and Thurston have used leftovers to make a nacho pasta bake, quiches, pulled pork sandwiches, meat pies, and snack boxes for kids. However it ends up, it’s always a chance for the owners to get creative in their kitchen with what they have left over.
“I have a lot of fun with coming up with different ideas and that’s what I love,” says Vanderburg. “It’s always different foods and different tasty things people would like.”
In September, Making Meals Matter expanded beyond the weekly meals by using the donations to serve for a Celebration of Life reception for a local teenage boy who recently passed away. St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church also gave back by donating their space for the reception.
“I just knew when he passed, (the family was) not in a good position because of the medical expenses and travel on top of everything they’ve gone through,” Vanderburg says. “By saving our gratuities to utilize for the better of others, we were able to help.”
After a brief hiatus during Board & Nibble’s busy season in the summer, Vanderburg and Thurston are eager to get back into providing more low-barrier meals to the community and are looking to work with businesses to sponsor the meals.
The duo are also willing to continue to spread the support outside of the weekly meals by giving from their pantries and fridges when those in need reach out.
“It just pains my heart to know there’s kids that are going without or that are not getting adequate nutrition, and we know it’s such an issue,” says Thurston. “If we can help families in that way, then we want to do that.”
Those interested in helping to support Making Meals Matter Kawartha Lakes can find more information at www.boardandnibble.ca/making-meals-matter or by following Making Meals Matter Kawartha Lakes on Facebook.
