RSSRouxbe for Life
November 21st, 2006 by Joe, Co-founder of Rouxbe
For the love of food and the people who need it!
Prior to starting Rouxbe, Dawn and I owned an on-location film catering company that catered exclusively to film crews in and around Vancouver, British Columbia.
One particular day back in 2003, we set up in a location that would change our lives forever: a back alley on Vancouverâ??s notoriously seedy downtown east side. For 12 days we would be displacing the street people who made their homes there. Every day we were confronted with the cruel juxtaposition of preparing gourmet meals for cast and crew mere feet away from people who were starving.
I remember one day like it was yesterday. A man approached me with a look of desperation in his eyes. He was cold, shaking, wet from the nightâ??s rain, and looked like he had been crying for hours. I was about to say â??sorryâ? when he reached his filthy hands into his pocket and pulled out what was probably all of his money, roughly $1.50 in small change. I remember him having trouble getting his hands in and out of his pocket, as they were so cold. He said to me, â??Iâ??ll give you all this for a piece of bread. I am so hungry I feel like Iâ??m going to die.â?
I challenge you to stop reading, close your eyes and think about what this man said to me. Have you ever been this hungry?
This experience didnâ??t just open our eyes to the hardships of the less fortunate; it gave us a whole new perspective on food, community service and business. We came to realize that serving the community and growing a successful business did not have to be mutually exclusive. In fact, they belonged together. Thanks to our downtown eastside teachers, Rouxbe is committed to finding sustainable ways to feed the hungry and to find employees, customers, friends, advisors and investors that feel the same way.
We found a way to have our business goals match our values. We created Rouxbe for Life. Already in our first two weeks, thanks to our early bird members, weâ??ve fed almost 2,000 hungry children in developing countries and weâ??re just getting started.
Rouxbe for Life contributes 15% of subscriber sales (not just profits) to provide hunger relief.
Joe, Dawn and Jim, just wanted to wish you all a very Merry Christmas and the very best in the New Year! You sure are ending this year with success, and your set up at home, looks most professional. (Saw the party pictures!)
Sue, my Kevin’s partner, is really thrilled with her birthday gift to Rouxbe, and Kevin as well. She has a laptop that they will set up in the kitchen when she cooks. They think you will do really well. Haven’t heard from Tim and Rachel – their house is a busy one with an active 4 1/2 yr. old and 1 year old, and both teach so tomorrow is their first day off, but I know they will enjoy it.
Myself, have been too busy shopping but will try some of the recipes. Looking forward to some lunch and dinner “nappies” for my lunch group and our dinner group.
Have a great holiday, and hope Santa is good to you all, especially the little ones.
Sincerely, Sheelagh and Jack
I too am a graduate of Dubrelle and will sign up for membership after we move to our new apartment (end of month). The last few years I have been involved in community kitchens and working on projects with Kid Safe in Vancouver also teaching cooking classes for parents with children in the Kidsafe program.
I am always looking for ways that I can share my experience with others and volunteer for cooking for those who might not be able to at this time.
I was very impressed with your business and after learning about your commitment to provide hunger relief I was really happy.
If I can help in any way please don’t hesitate to contact me.
Well done.
Regards
Tish Vanstone
[...] Food is the essence of everything we do at Rouxbe. For example, when weâ??re not busy testing recipes or filming them, weâ??re often busy eating them. You can find either Dawn or Joe (and occasionally Jimmy, our CFO) busy at work preparing lunch. Dawn yelling that lunch is ready is usually our signal to drop everything and commune around the lunch table. Then when lunch is done we say thanks, reach in our pockets and drop a dollar each into this jar which is part of our daily contribution to Rouxbe for Life – our way of saying thanks for the great food while recognizing the millions of kids that donâ??t have any. What is Rouxbe for Life? The goal of Rouxbe for Life is simple â?? to make contributions to hunger relief agencies that focus on sustainability, such as school feeding programs in developing countries. [...]