Dot Com Lunch at Union Gospel Mission Soup Kitchen
With the US dollar in the toilet, my buying power isn’t what it used to be. Let’s face it, $20K US a month just doesn’t get you very far in the most expensive city in Canada. As a matter of fact, things have gotten so bad, we ended up dining at a soup kitchen for the homeless! From $60 burgers to a free lunch at the Union Gospel Mission. How humbling is that?
The Union Gospel Mission cares for the hungry, hurting and homeless of Greater Vancouver. Founded in 1940 as a small soup kitchen, UGM now has satellite facilities in Surrey, New Westminster, Mission and downtown Vancouver, and provides services from employment training to affordable housing solutions. UGM serves over 280,000 meals each year, and provides shelter for almost 10,000 individuals a year. Because of contributions to the them in the past, UGM invited us to have lunch on them and take a tour of their facilities.
The Mission is located in the poorest neighborhood in all of Canada, the Downtown Eastside of Vancouver, and serves as a beacon of hope for the homeless and hungry. UGM offers drug and alcohol recovery programs, community outreach, low-cost thrift stores, and emergency meals, shelter and clothing.
Union Gospel Mission’s Lorene Vernon and Kevan Gilbert showed us around the entire UGM facilities. It’s much bigger than I thought and includes a drop-in centre, thrift store and an affordable housing complex.
Free Lunch at the Union Gospel Mission
Clockwise from left to right: Michael Kwan, Ed Lau, Kevan Gilbert, Stephen Fung, John Chow, Greg Morgan, and Danny Chang.
For a soup kitchen for the homeless, the food at the UGM was pretty good. I would say almost too good. A homeless person may wish to remain a homeless person if this is what he can eat for free everyday. Stephen ate the most. He ate so much I’m afraid the UGM may not have anything left when the kitchen opens its doors to the people waiting outside.
The House Where I Grew Up
Union Gospel Mission is located at 616 East Cordova Street, which is just across the street from the house where I grew up. Yes, I grew up in the poorest neighborhood in all of Canada. To my amazement, the house is still there. I should buy it and turn it into a safe house or something.
Help Me Raise Money for The UGM Thanksgiving Dinner
Thanksgiving is just around the corner and the UGM needs your help to provide hot Thanksgiving meals and other life-changing services to hungry, hurting and homeless men, women and children in Vancouver. The UGM is an organization that I support and I’m asking you to join me in helping to feed the hungry this Thanksgiving. A complete meal cost only $2.59. This is an amount I believe we can all afford.
I Will Match Your Donation
I will personally match every dollar donated by the John Chow dot Com community up to a maximum of $1000.00. Simply make a donation at UGM’s online donation page, then email me a copy of the email receipt. Feel free to leave a comment about your donation as well.
All readers making donations will be recognized in a blog post this Friday. If you have a website or blog, I will link to it. I grew up in the Downtown Eastside. I did not come from money. I am where I am today because I know that in order to receive any blessings in life, you must first give. The more you give, the more you will receive. The meals and other services we provide can be the start of a new life and new beginning for those in need. Let’s show the Union Gospel Mission that the John Chow dot Com community cares.
- Posted in Fine Dining, Ramblings
- 97 comments what's your take?
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I like how this post is categorized under “fine dining.” I too was very impressed with the food offered in the soup kitchen. I’m still full!
And you mispelled my name! I’ll fix it myself.
Reply to this commentI just hope 10 people will enjoy the food just as you did for the thanks giving day with my donation.
I was about to buy a service that was the price of 10 meals pretty much, but I think i can extend the service to the next month. Those money go to UGM for this month. Donated.
Reply to this commentQuit frontin’ you know you still live there.
Reply to this commentwell i think you should dedicate aleast one month of earning to cherity wht do you guys think lets start a vote of we get 100 yes i think john chow will do it. your’s truly Thegeekboys.com
Reply to this commentWhat makes you think I don’t already?
Reply to this commentbecause you haven’t posted it directly like.. saying… “every month a part of my income will go to UGM”
Although… I think you don’t need to do that anymore.
Reply to this commentI think alexander was referring to donate a whole month income not a part of the income monthly. John said he had donated $1000 in the past and as far as i understood he was going to donate another $1000 (correct me if I am wrong).
Reply to this commentAccording to MingPao, John Chow donated all 2006’s JohnChow.com earning.
Reply to this commentThats even much much better.
Reply to this commentDo ya? Well, Do ya?
Reply to this commenthow tall are you John? you are the tallest in the pic!
Reply to this commentI was totally surprised at how good John’s behaviour was. I was half expecting to get the beat down just by association
It was a really great experience. I had no idea the homeless were fed so well.
Reply to this commentExcellent charity. I know you have been working with them for a while, as I donated back in April for their Easter meal. I’ll be emailing you a receipt soon
Reply to this commentThanksgiving is my favorite holiday! Donated.
Reply to this commentMine too! That’s why I donated as well.
Reply to this commentGreat idea! I donated last year too. Will email you receipt.
Reply to this commentI assume you took the taxi down? If not, I would like to hear whose car got stolen
Reply to this commentSending you money right now.
Reply to this commentThe food looks good. They could turn it into a paying restaurant and make money for the homeless.
Reply to this commentYep. The restaurant business would be great.
Reply to this commentWhy limit the max at $1000? Isn’t that a bit too little? I assume its all Canadian dollars.
Reply to this commentI tell you what. If you want to donate more than $1,000, I’ll match you.
Reply to this comment
Now I have till Friday to find that $1000.
Reply to this commentlol. you just got your big mouth/fingers whammed by John.
Reply to this commentGood luck, big mouth
Reply to this commentlucky he didn’t come up with a million dollars or something, that would have been embarrassing
Reply to this commentCanadian dollars is greater than USD now!
Reply to this commentUSD FTL!!
Reply to this commentA good charity by the looks of things. Well done on supporting those who need it the most.
Reply to this commentDonation done!
Reply to this commentHey John i think you can be a preacher man
you got the words man. I just made a donation for $25.90 CAD.
I will email you the receipt in a jiffy.
Cheers
Reply to this commentMichael Boateng
Well done John, finally a good blogging cause…
Reply to this commentI have tried to do more or less the same (convince people to give what they don’t need) in Ireland for many years, If we can all do the same, what a better palce the world would be for all of us and our grandchrildren. Good luck with your Canadian Cause.
sadly there are always people who would use it, to scam others.
Reply to this commentLooks like a pretty good feed
Reply to this commentJohn,
I am happy to support a charity like this. How do we forward our receipt to you? I don’t think it’s possible using your contact page.
Reply to this commentHey John,
Fantastic post. It was great to have the seven of you come by today. Thanks so much for starting up the pledge-matching idea. Also, Sarah took some great shots.
Just to clarify, the meal we ate is not the same meal that the homeless folks lining up outside will eat. As the guests from the street come in, they get to enjoy a bowl of soup, a sandwich, salad, a pastry and some coffee. The meals that we ate are geared towards the residents of our alcohol and drug recovery program — hence the emphasis on hearty and nutritious food.
Reply to this commentI love seeing posts like this.
Reply to this commentYahoo! I donated and am very excited for a link from John Chow!
Reply to this commentDamn, sounds like you guys had some good grub…for free! Hmmm…I know where the next Dot Com Pho should be…
Donation made! 
Reply to this commentI think it is cool to see how successful you have become starting from that house.
Reply to this commentSent right now, should I sent the receipt through your contact form?
Reply to this commentYou can forward a copy to johnchow@johnchow.com
Reply to this commentI sent through the contact form, should I forward it to that email instead?
Reply to this commentHey John,
Great to know that you are a guy with heart, where you give your time and money for those that in need.
I’ve worked with a charity close to my heart and my country of origin Philippines. GK777.
Keep up the good work.
Cheers,
Reply to this commentCarlo Selorio
You should put do some more charity work/posts.
Reply to this commentI donated to help feed 10 people =-) Who’s will to match or beat me?
Reply to this commentYea its not a big donation but I’m limited in my funds…every bit helps right!
As for me- charity is the most blessed mankind performance.
Reply to this commentI was going to donate via paypal - but they won’t let me do so unless I fork out 10 meals worth. I was happy to donate $10 to the cause, but all my online dosh is in paypal, egold, netteller etc and not on a Credit Card.
They should really change it so you can donate any amount via paypal - I suspect if you e-mailed paypal they will remove the transfer fees for charities.
Now I have to digg out my Credit Card or fork out 10 meals. ;\
Reply to this commentMaybe that’s their sneaky way of growing donations.
Looks like it’s working.
Reply to this commentthey don’t accept paypal as donation?
Reply to this commentI donated some money. Good initiative, John. I also like your crew that you roll with… which one is your bodyguard?
Reply to this commentYour post is very good. I feel it is a must for every human being to donate some amount of their earning to such homes and poor people. It’s we who have come out of scratch we know the value of money and we can put it to proper use.
Reply to this commentGreat job John. I guess keep doing such things and keep writing about it from time to time to remind us all that we too need to help others in some form or the other.
will donate. this is the sort of place i come from myself.
Reply to this commentJohn, is your friend in a fraternity, or is that an honorary society shirt?
Reply to this commentWhich friend are you referring to?
Reply to this commentI believe he is referring to Danny Chang in the Lamba phi Epsilon shirt.
Reply to this commentwill throw in some geez! great post and good work to drive charity..
Reply to this commentVery nice post! There arent many people in this world doing things like this, once they hit the market with something.
Reply to this commentNice post and great sentiment. I’ve just donated.
Reply to this commentYou know you’ve made it to the “big time” when you start being philanthropic. I’m watching a “work in progress,” you- John Chow, and it is fascinating.
Reply to this commentThank You for all that your’re doing.
This is a very cool idea. I sponsor a 15 year old girl from South America. I’ll probably pitch in a little bit later today, and email the receipt.
Reply to this commentGood post! I’ll be donating soon. I hope this doesn’t duplicate, because I posted earlier an my computer froze.
Reply to this commentGreat job!
Reply to this commentGood work John! We will donate as soon as Possible! ,)
Reply to this commentThis revives my hope for mankind. The UGH deserve all the help they can get and I am also very happy that you will match whatever people donate. You will shortly be getting information about that. Thanks for bringing this wonderful information to us. GBY. ( God Bless You )
Reply to this commentthat is bad part of city? man..wake up America..should see bad part of US Cities..anyway..I will make some donation..before $$ goes worthless.
Reply to this commentI’m in for 100 people. Let’s make John hurt!
Reply to this commentDonation made. Reciept Sent.
John,
Reply to this commentAny chance of you visiting NYC or something? I am in the area and would love to show you around and discuss some ideas.
I don’t have any plans to visit NYC this year. But maybe next year.
Reply to this commentOoh nice. $2.49 for a link on John Chow’s site!
Reply to this commentIt’s $2.59
Reply to this commentI think most people will donate more than that!
Great way to give back to the community John!
Just donated too.
Reply to this commentJohn, I have mailed the receipt from PayPal using your contact form by copy and paste. 10 persons. And for once, I think I like John Chow.
Reply to this comment‘..to receive any blessings in life, you must first give’ I have heard of this from a chinese proverbs and I think it’s TRUE!
Reply to this commentjohn not evil
today
we’re all proud of your good cause dude
Reply to this commentHi John
Reply to this commentA very touching and moving article. But you’re a sneaky devil…..
Those photos were so good that one couldn’t help but use the PayPal account to participate. I guess a lot of the blog readers feel the same, and however small each amount may be, when added up, it all becomes a considerable amount.
Good luck on the dinners etc.
Nice job, John. Its nice to see you take a portion of you blog to highlight the needs of the needy.
Reply to this commentHello again John;
Doing our best to remain attentive to our supporter’s needs, we’ve made a few changes to our donation page:
1. You can now donate a custom amount over PayPal, instead of being restricted to one of the pre-written options, and…
2. In the “How did you hear about the Mission?” drop-down menu, you’ll find “John Chow” and “Around the web” as one of the selections.
Thanks again,
Reply to this comment- kevan
Hey John,
Reply to this commentI’ve been reading your blog for 3 months now and think this is a great thing to do! I made a donation of $25.90, and hope alot of others help support the cause! I myself understand that it is great to be more pleased in life than others, and feel it’s important to help out those when they are down as much too our ability. I’d like to mention http://www.kiva.org. I’ve been an active loaner with them for about a year now. You can see my lender page here: http://www.kiva.org/lender/pixelstreamed6091. Hope my small donation makes an impact!
Man that sounded like a very humbling experience for you. I would think that with a great income such as yours, things would be easy there. I would scream if I had to pat $60 for a burger. Over here it is only $2 for a good burger. I really did not know the fall of the US dollar was so bad.
Reply to this commentThat’s really a great thing you’re doing. When you have a lot, it’s great that you seem to be giving back a lot.
A great illustration is the Dead sea. It does nothing but takes in streams and has no out ward streams. As a result everything in it dies. A healthy lake is one that has both an inflow and outflow.
Great job.
Reply to this commentFinaly something here what is not evil at all. So John you have also other side… That is realy good
Reply to this commentI knew he had it in him. lol
Reply to this commentNice charity
Reply to this commentExcellent photos collection. I love eating. So i am 80 kgs
Reply to this commentDonated! I didn’t have much to spare since I’m pretty poor myself, but hope my $5 helps.
Reply to this comment