Edna Peters’ wide smile greets the myriad people who pass through the Brennan Park recreation Centre lobby.
Peters works at the newly opened Squamish Helping Hands Society coffee cart tucked across from the till at the centre three nights a week, Wednesday through Friday.
“I like being here with all the people,” Peters said, while deftly pouring steaming coffee into a paper cup, taking change and taking an order from two pint-sized figure skaters in search of a drink and a snack.
The cart is a partnership between Squamish Helping Hands Society and the District of Squamish, according to Maureen Mackell of Helping Hands. The district provided the kitchen facility and space for the cart.
The workers are clients of the society who are part of its Volunteer Work Exchange Program. In the beginning, they are paid an honorarium in the form of gift cards to work the cart while they are in training. The program has a built-in promotion plan that allows clients to eventually become full employees of the cart, Mackell said.
“The idea in the beginning is to re-enter the workforce without pressure as we accommodate specific individual barriers.”
Community volunteers, society staff and work-program volunteers also prepare onsite the snacks, which so far include fresh-baked muffins, energy bars and grilled cheese sandwiches. “We’re providing opportunities for people to be able to move… from dependence and being in crisis and in emergency situations to gaining skills to getting stabilized and having a work purpose to move forward in their lives.
A society staff member is always on hand while the cart is open to offer help and support to the worker.
Clients such as Peters learn new skills such as baking, preparing barista-level coffees, customer service and operating a cash register.
“Nobody really likes to get, get, get, so finding a place for them to give, give, give is mostly what people want. It begins to build your self-esteem,” said Mackell.
The items sold on the cart have three-tiered pricing, which is itemized on a large chalkboard beside the cart.
There’s the regular price, a lower access card price for lower income families who access the centre with a special card, and a “feeling generous” price for people who want to donate.
“It is kind of a neat way people can see the big and small ways they can participate,” she said.
“All the monies go back into the program. There’s no profit to be had.”
Business has been gradually increasing since the cart was launched in late October. “It is getting busier,” Peters said. “They are finding us.”
The cart is currently open Monday to Friday 4:30 to 7:30 p.m.
