Construction crews working on a major condo tower project in downtown Kelowna, B.C., have been frequenting a food truck run by a homeless shelter for breakfast and lunch for the past several months. The Gospel Mission operates the food truck next to the Water Street By The Park construction site, where two towers are being built. The food truck is a social enterprise for the shelter, providing meals to the construction workers and earning revenue to support their services.
The Gospel Mission acquired two food trucks through grants a couple of years ago, with one being used for outreach and the other not being fully utilized until now. The food truck has been well received by the construction workers, who come daily and eagerly support the initiative. The money earned at the food truck goes back into the Gospel Mission’s services, funding their outreach team and transitional employment program. The food truck has been operating at the construction site since April and has proven to be quite profitable, bringing in over $30,000 in revenue during the first quarter.
The revenue from the food truck is crucial for the Gospel Mission, as it provides unrestricted funds that can be used to support their programs and services. Grant funding can be sporadic and uncertain, so having a steady stream of revenue from the food truck is essential for the organization to continue operating. The food truck has also allowed the Gospel Mission to hire some of its shelter residents to work in the truck, providing them with employment opportunities and the chance to build their resumes and work habits for future employment.
The success of the food truck at the construction site has inspired the Gospel Mission to consider expanding to other construction projects once the Water Street By The Park project is completed. The concept of using a food truck as a social enterprise has not only provided meals to construction workers but has also created employment opportunities for shelter residents and brought in much-needed revenue for the organization. Overall, the food truck initiative has been a win-win situation for both the construction crews and the Gospel Mission, demonstrating the positive impact of social enterprises in the community.
