Dallas Gonsalves
VFR: Hello Dallas! As the Director of Gathering Place Community Centre, please tell us more about its mandate and the programs that operate out of the Centre.
Dallas Gonsalves: The Gathering Place Community Centre has been in operation since 1995, serving the downtown south community. Our centre operates 365 days a year, providing health, nutrition, social, cultural, and recreation services and programs—all at no or minimal cost. We focus on creating a welcoming and accessible environment for all individuals. Many of our patrons are experiencing poverty, homelessness, often with associated impacts of addiction, physical and mental illness, and trauma.
The Gathering Place consists of a theatre, multipurpose rooms, pottery and art studios, fitness rooms, a library, and a cafeteria that offers low-cost meals. Through funding by BC Housing, we have a health and hygiene centre that provides free showers and laundry. Additionally, we run a shelter where 34 people call Gathering Place home nightly.
We have a robust volunteer program, a community garden, a partnership in-house with the Vancouver School Board, where people can achieve their GED, health and wellness programming, social programs, a food hamper program, and a beautiful art gallery featuring work from our community members.
As part of our Arts and Culture programming in partnership with our community centre association, we provide no-cost opportunities and memberships to our patrons for outings to community events and activities they might not otherwise have the chance to attend. We serve systematically vulnerable populations in the downtown south community, including seniors, individuals with fixed low income, newcomers, and other marginalized individuals.
VFR: Many VFR food donations make their way to Gathering Place. How are donations integrated into your food programming and how do they support your critical work?
DG: We could not do it without the support and donations from VFR. Thanks to these contributions, we can provide free food seven days a week and support multiple programs within our centre. The demand for free food has significantly increased since 2020, and we appreciate the ability to respond to this growing need.
In the vicinity of our centre, there are limited resources for free or low-cost food. Our food hamper program, serving over 60 people a week, relies entirely on donations from the Greater Vancouver Food Bank and pickups from VFR at Justin’s No Frills or City Market (Arbutus). These donations also support various programs, including Free Meal Fridays (where 24-75 lunches are distributed every Friday during live music events), a monthly dinner for our men's health and wellness group, initiatives in our Library, a weekly gathering for seniors, and a monthly dinner for our Indigenous programming.
VFR: Regular access to wholesome, nutritious food is foundational to good health, as well as mental and social well-being. How do you see this in action through the work of Gathering Places’ food programs each day?
DG: Access to nourishing and healthy, delicious food is a fundamental right that everyone should enjoy. At the Gathering Place, our cafeteria operates on a low-cost model, and all our meals are subsidized by the City of Vancouver. The pricing is as follows: Breakfast is $2.25, lunch is $2.75, and dinner is $3.50. Additionally, certain items like soup and sandwiches are available for as little as $1.
We strive to offer a culturally diverse menu and ensuring a vegetarian option is available at each meal. I cannot stress enough about how many of our patrons are dealing with health challenges, and consequently, maintaining a healthy diet with fruits, vegetables, and whole grains is very important. The Gathering Place recognizes its responsibility to prepare meals with love and care, placing the health of our community members at the forefront.
VFR: Food security remains a critical issue. What are some of the trends you have been seeing over the last few years, when it comes to people’s ability to eat healthy food on a regular basis? And, from the perspective of a service organization, what are some of the challenges you’re facing trying to address these community-level needs?
We witness these challenges daily – our demand for low-cost food has increased by over 50% in the past three years, and this need continues to grow. The 60 spots for our food hamper program fill up within 10 minutes of sign-up, and multiple individuals approach our front desk daily in need of a free meal. The challenges we encounter include the pick-up of donations, storage constraints, processing procedures for donations, and ensuring that the donations effectively meet the diverse needs of our community.
VFR: How can people get involved and support the work of Gathering Place Community Centre?
There are several ways to support — we operate a big clothing donation program and are continually in need of clothing donations, including new and used socks and underwear. Winter jackets, shoes, belts, and track pants are particularly in short supply.
Additionally, volunteering with Gathering Place is a meaningful way to contribute. We host numerous special events and community dinners, always seeking individuals to serve and support. Another valuable avenue of support is through donations to our Community Centre Association – The Downtown South Gathering Place Community Centre Association. This volunteer-run nonprofit ensures that funds received go directly towards supporting programs and providing free meals for patrons at the Gathering Place. Lastly, everyone is welcome to drop in, visit our space, and participate in any of our programs.
Learn more about donating to or volunteering with Gathering Place HERE.
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