Food for the Unhoused | Society of Native Nations

Community Support Project: Food for the Unhoused Project

Food for the Unhoused part of our SNN COVID-19 Response Program (CRP) began July 2nd 2020. We are providing hot meals on weekends to those in need. (launched July 2, 2020 — still serving today)

We provide hot, nourishing weekend meals to unhoused relatives and community members facing hard times. Rooted in Indigenous values of reciprocity, respect, and care for Mother Earth, the program pairs dignified meal service with zero-waste practices and community connection.

Mission

To gift a cooked meal—LIFE—to those living on the streets or struggling, while teaching and practicing ways of living in harmony with the earth: recycling, composting, washing and reusing plates, giving to receive, sharing time and food, and building a sense of community.

What We Do

Weekend Hot Meals: Fresh, culturally mindful dishes prepared and served outdoors.
Community & Dignity: Kind conversation, resource referrals, and a welcoming, judgment-free space.
Zero-Waste by Design: We minimize single-use items and model sustainable practices at every step.

How Service Works (Earth-Honoring & Health-Aware)

All meals are cooked and served outdoors.
Seating is arranged to respect personal space and comfort.
A drinking water station is available for everyone.
We use homemade clay plates, utensils, and cups whenever possible.
Wash stations are set up to clean and reuse plates, utensils, and cups.
When disposables are needed, all to-go containers, cups, and utensils are biodegradable.
Compost and recycling stations help us divert waste from landfills.

Why Zero-Waste?

Plastic pollution harms land, water, and health—especially for frontline communities. By cooking outdoors, reusing durable dishware, and composting, we demonstrate practical solutions that honor our relationships with the land and with each other.

Get Involved

Volunteer: Help cook, serve, wash, compost, or offer resource navigation.
Donate: Sponsor a weekend meal, supply fresh produce, or contribute biodegradable goods.
Partner: Restaurants, farms, faith groups, and community orgs—join us to scale our impact.

Questions or want to help? Contact the Programs Department to volunteer, donate, or partner.

Our Principles

Respect • Reciprocity • Responsibility • Community • Zero-Waste

Together, we share food, reduce waste, and strengthen the bonds that keep our community alive and well.

Short term Goals:
Serve consistent hot weekend meals with reliable hours and locations.

Grow the volunteer team and provide training on food safety, cultural humility, and zero-waste practices.

Establish a standard compost and recycling workflow at every meal site.

Create simple education materials (one-pagers/signage) on composting, recycling, and respectful dish-washing.

Track basic impact data (meals served, volunteers engaged, pounds of waste composted/diverted) to improve services.
Long term Goals:
Develop mobile meal hubs (pop-up stations) to reach more unhoused neighbors across multiple sites.

Build community kitchens & partnerships that integrate food sovereignty (local farms, traditional foods) with regular meal service.

Formalize a peer-leadership pathway so participants can co-organize, cook, and lead education stations.

Achieve near-zero waste at meal sites through expanded reuse systems and local compost partnerships.

Secure sustainable funding to ensure year-round operations and emergency surge capacity during heat waves, freezes, or disasters.