Supporting Watari in the Downtown Eastside

December was a busy month for our Volunteer Wave team, and we were so excited to spend it supporting a new community partner, Watari Counselling and Support Services. Located in Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside, Watari is a wellness centre and multipurpose community space built with the community for the community. Each month, hundreds of people rely on Watari for meals, food hampers, showers, laundry services, fresh haircuts, spaces to rest, counselling, public health support, and cultural gatherings. They focus especially on supporting Indigenous and LGBTQ2S+ communities.

Our first visit on December 27 was all about helping during the holiday rush. Watari’s food donation program runs year-round, but at the end of the year, they receive a huge increase in surplus grocery donations from supermarkets and grocery stores. Our volunteers jumped in to chop potatoes for cooking, organize shelves of donated non-perishables, and pack nutritious food hampers for single mothers, families, and elders in need. Every task mattered in keeping the food moving safely from donation to distribution.

We returned for one final shift on December 30 and it was another meaningful day. Volunteers were welcomed with a homemade breakfast sandwich and coffee, a small but heartfelt gesture that reflects Watari’s commitment to community care and mutual support. After fueling up, we got to work sorting surplus produce and pastries and packing food hampers. Because this shift was on a weekday, volunteers also got to see Watari’s dignified “shopping-style” food distribution model in action, helping clients pack their bags and offering friendly conversation along the way.

Nearly 20 people, including Volunteer Wave members and Watari’s long-term volunteers, worked together. Even with so many hands, the work kept us busy enough to run overtime. At the end of the day, volunteers were invited to take home some produce as a thank-you, leaving us feeling welcomed, appreciated, and inspired by Watari’s generosity.

We are grateful to have had the chance to support such a warm, inclusive, and generous organization, and we can’t wait to return in the months ahead. If you want to volunteer alongside us at Watari, keep an eye on Bloomerang for upcoming shifts.