How Volunteers Help Prepare Meals at Watari Kitchen

There's something deeply human about making food for someone you've never met. A group of 8 of us recently made our way to Watari Kitchen, right in the heart of Vancouver's Downtown Eastside, to do exactly that — and it turned out to be one of the most grounding, rewarding experiences we've had as a team.

The mission was simple but meaningful: make soup. Not just any soup though. A single batch from Watari Kitchen can last an entire week and serve up to 50 people through the Dugout. Knowing that made every chop, every stir, and every caramelized onion feel like it carried a little more weight.

Together, we set out to make two soups — a hearty potato soup and a classic tomato soup. Vegetables were flying: peppers, broccoli, potatoes, and everything in between. The kitchen was alive with the kind of focused, happy chaos that only happens when a group of people are working toward something they genuinely care about.

Leading the charge were our two head chefs, Adam and Chloe, who brought the experience and the calm that the rest of us amateur cooks very much needed. And when it came to caramelizing the onions — something that sounds simple but absolutely is not — the talented chefs at Watari stepped in to guide us through it. Their knowledge and generosity made all the difference, and we're grateful for the way they welcomed us into their space.

Once the soups were made and the kitchen was spotless, everything was packed up and sent off to the Dugout, ready to be served throughout the week. It was a collaborative effort from start to finish, and the thought of those meals reaching people in the community made the whole experience feel complete.

None of it would have happened without our incredible volunteers, and this one calls for a very special mention. Kristina came out that day despite dealing with a sore back, and she showed up fully — present, hardworking, and smiling throughout. That kind of commitment doesn't go unnoticed, and it speaks to exactly the kind of people who make Captain Scott what it is.

Thank you to Watari Kitchen for opening your doors, to Adam and Chloe for keeping us on track, and to every single person who rolled up their sleeves and got cooking. See you at the next one.