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Kitchen Bees charitable food program shifting its focus

'Not closing, just changing,' said John Dennis, program coordinator of the Kitchen Bees, which will soon be Helper Bees
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Kitchen Bees team cooks meals in Church of the Apostles, ready to be delivered to those experiencing food insecurity in the community. Supplied photo

They’re no longer going to be called the Kitchen Bees.

Soon, volunteers that have been using the kitchen at The Church of the Apostles to supply meals for the community during the pandemic, will become the Helper Bees.

Kitchen Bees program coordinator and volunteer, John Dennis, explains the organization is rebranding to Helper Bees as they focus on other community initiatives. 

“We’re in a transition period,” Dennis said about the Kitchen Bees. "Not closing, just changing."

One new initiative the Helper Bees are planning is a book sale, with proceeds from the sales going to support book programs in jails.

“We’re pumped for that and different projects throughout the year,” he said, adding the Helper Bees will also launch a grocery program, offering fresh produce from THE SEED on Fridays.

While the Helper Bees will be working on new initiatives, the plan is to continue to run the cooked meal program on Fridays and Sundays through The Church of the Apostles. Dennis explains the change in the meal program schedule is due to day users coming back to the church. With restrictions loosening, the church has decided to resume some of its daytime programs.

“We’ve been blessed to be at The Church of the Apostles and to continue with their mission work," said Dennis.

Dennis mentions another change to the meal program is the Helper Bees will be working more closely with Downtown Guelph Friends. 

"Our primary focus was The Bench, but now we're working with the Downtown Guelph Friends," said Dennis.

Since 2020, the Kitchen Bees has delivered 15,000 meals and worked with over 200 volunteers. Dennis mentions some of the volunteers have been returning and they have seen students from the University of Guelph also come out to help distribute meals.

When it comes to the community response so far, Dennis said it has been ‘super positive.’

“It gives people an opportunity to do something positive,” he said, mentioning the meal program distributes 40 to 50 meals a week and makes frozen meals for HOPE House and Downtown Guelph Friends.