Our Mission
Community Helpers Unite (CHU), Inc. is an Indigenous led non-profit and social enterprise in North Winnipeg. With a core staff and volunteer base of 60, we foster food security and build socio-economic capacity to relatives within Treaty One Territory.
Since February 2021, we have partnered with local farmers, grocers, business, and civil society to meet our mission to increase food security sustainably. As former processors and producers in the profit-centered food industry for many years, we have witnessed hunger grow within the take-make-waste system that dominates urban life. Unlike traditional food banks that must rely on financial donations to purchase foodstuffs at rising costs, we at CHU invest in the holistic returns of the circular food economy we have built.
Our mission at CHU is to increase food security in the community and build socio-economic independence with affordable and free meals, food education, mentorship, as well as meaningful employment and volunteer opportunities.
We envision a future for Winnipeg that is fair, inclusive, and equitable to people from all walks of life. We seek to end food insecurity by fostering socio-economic independence among Indigenous and marginalized members and families. We build micro circular economies through the circular food economy with CHU's 'pay what you can' and 'pay it forward' system.
Each day on average, we rescue 4,000 to 5,000 lbs. of produce and food that we upcycle into nutritious affordable and free meals as well as food support bundles. This wholesome fare bypasses the landfills and is further redistributed in the community to bring agency and dignity to those in need. Furthermore, our 6,000 sq ft. warehouse puts together over 300 emergency food hampers monthly for outreach workers who support families facing crisis.
Our Values
As an Indigenous-led community resource, we follow the Seven Sacred Teachings of
LOVE, COURAGE, RESPECT, HUMILITY, TRUTH, WISDOM, and HONESTY.
At CHU, we are guided by teachings:
food is medicine, education is healing, and community is family.
Because poverty is felt differently in our communities, we honour the truths held by our urban Indigenous relatives and prioritize the hiring of Indigenous staff. Those who also experience barriers to employment, namely youth, recent immigrants and refugees, remain a converging priority at CHU.
CHU makes decisions that promote long-term sustainability and steady growth within our community. We practice a people-first, harm reduction model where the answer to an expressed need is always, “Yes.” We create solutions using our resources, the expertise of our partners, and the skills found within our community.
Our Goals
At CHU, we support marginalized relatives become
socio-economically independent and food secure by providing:
- a Safe Community Space at Ombishkaawak Migiziwak (Rising Eagles)
- access to Emergency Food Support
- connections to local Resources
- Training for Industry Minimum Certifications
- Cooking and Grocery Classes
- Volunteer Opportunities that lead to needed Work References towards Casual, Part-Time, and Full-Time Employment
Our goal is to create a replicable framework for the pathway above, which, along with our core structure, will be used successfully in other cities and provinces experiencing similar challenges in food security.
