Indigenous Food Systems Network

Community Linkages Soup Bus Project

Designed to provide mobile food distribution, support, education, and referrals to Aboriginal individuals and families with multiple barriers, including limited access to other community kitchen programs in the community of Prince George, BC.

Objectives of the Project

1)Improve Health & Nutrition:

a)Community Linkages serves 575 meals per week to program participants from the Friendship Centre’s Smokehouse Kitchen. Each meal consists of: Soup, sandwich, bannock, juice, and fruit or vegetables.

2)Community Linkages also works with other programs in community:

a)Community Linkages collaborates within CSFS and the University of Northern British Columbia(UNBC)and College of New Caledonia(CNC)with recruitment of student volunteers to assist with project.

b)Program intended to target the urban Aboriginal population; however no one is turned away for services.

3)Improve participant access to services offered in Prince George:

a)Community Linkages also works with other support services of the community:

b)Project works with services such as the Friendship Centre, Active Support Aginst Poverty shelter, St. Vincent de Paul Drop-in Centre, and Positive Living North to name a few.

c)Participants can access meals without having to travel into the downtown core. This is supportive for the following reasons: Travelling with young children; Ensuring nutritious meals are provided; Reduction of need for food hampers; and reduction in triggers for relapse by not having to attend the downtown core for services.

4)Increase cultural activities for participants:

a)Community Linkages advocates program users to strengthen cultural identity, pride, and self-esteem. Examples include participation in cultural activities on Aboriginal Day and local cultural events such as the annual Prince George Native Friendship Centre Annual Traditional Pow Wow and other local cultural activities.

Contact information for Community Linkages Program

Pat Coon – Community Linkages Coordinator e-mail patrick@csfs.org
Crystal Prince– Community Linkages Assistant
Jesse Ogen – Community Linkages Assistant

987-4th Avenue, Toll free: 1-800-889-6855
Prince George, B.C. Phone: (250)-562-3591
V2L 3H7 Fax: (250)-562-2272