Algonquin College Donations Bring More Than Meals to Pinecrest Community Members

Posted on Wednesday, February 9th, 2022

When the COVID-19 pandemic began in early 2020, employees in Algonquin College’s School of Hospitality and Tourism suddenly found themselves with an abundance of leftover food. With the Ottawa Campus closed and food service outlets like Savoir Fare shut down, savoury and sweet goods prepared daily by the culinary and baking students were no longer reaching the College community.

College staff took the opportunity to reach out to local community groups in need of donated meals and baked goods.

“I looked into the Pinecrest-Queensway Community Health Centre because they’re in our catchment area for the College and they have a number of community programs and services,” says Cathy Dewar, Restaurant Technologist at Restaurant International. “They were thrilled because they had seen an increase in the need for food donations.”

The Pinecrest-Queensway Community Health Centre (PQCHC) supports its local community through health, senior, youth, family and employment services, as well as through its five Community Houses. The Community Houses serve residents in Ottawa Community Housing communities through services like homework clubs, art programs, community kitchens, and three food banks.

Denise Read, Community House Coordinator at the PQCHC Winthrop Court Community House, shared the impact the donations have had on residents.

“Winthrop Court and Michele Heights are the two Community Houses that do not have food banks. Through COVID we were seeing an increased need for food support, so we were incredibly grateful for this opportunity,” she says. “I contacted Cathy [Dewar], arranged for weekly pickups and we started them almost immediately.”

Once per week staff from PQCHC pick-up the meals and baked goods from the School of Hospitality and Tourism. Maryann Murphy from Savoir Fare selects items for donation while Yves Doran from the School’s shipping and receiving department prepares them for transport. Depending on the week, meals could include grilled Atlantic salmon, lasagne, or grilled chicken breast with rice and vegetables. There are also treats like cookies, brownies and date squares, as well as chocolate buttercream and St. Honoré cake. The cakes are particularly popular among a network of seniors within the Winthrop Court neighbourhood.

The donations have made a difference in the lives of the over 300 families that live in the Winthrop Court and Michele Heights communities. With job losses and rising food costs due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, purchasing certain foods is becoming increasingly out-of-reach for many families. For others, ongoing pandemic restrictions lead to social isolation.

“Many residents save or request cakes for a child’s birthday so it’s really nice to be able to offer them something special,” says Read. “Going to people’s homes, having a brief conversation at the door, bringing a nice meal or a cake also helps to reduce the isolation people might be experiencing. It’s been a real bright spot during COVID when there haven’t been a lot of bright spots.”

Although Savoir Fare and Restaurant International are reopening with the lifting of COVID-19 restrictions, Dewar affirms the College will continue to provide regular donations to PQCHC.

“We will always have something extra and [the AC Culinary team] feel it’s something good we can do to give back,” she says. “It’s really nice to see us working within our community.”

To learn more about the Pinecrest-Queensway Community Health Centre, visit https://www.pqchc.com/.


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