L- R Capers Staff: Peter, Wade, Zachery, AIDS Vancouver Executive Director David Swan, Potluck Chef Johnny, Capers Staff: Karen,and Willo and Potluck Staff Kara all came out to Capers on Robson St to help load the giant pumpkin on to a truck bound for Potluck Cafe.

The Capers store on Robson donated a 250 pound pumpkin/squash, last Monday, to feed the underserved population of the Downtown East Side (DTES) this Halloween.

AIDS Vancouver in partnership with Potluck Cafe moved the pumpkin on Monday from the Robson St store to the Potluck Café premises in the DTES. AIDS Vancouver Executive Director, David Swan, Potluck Café’s Chef Johnny Perry and Capers management and staff were on hand to load the giant pumpkin into the truck.

Potluck’s Chef, Johnny will be preparing 250 servings of soup to be given out to residents in the DTES on Friday October 30. “No part of the pumpkin will be wasted, even the seeds will be roasted for snacks and salad additions. “ stated Johnny Perry. Two kinds of pumpkin soup and possibly pumpkin bread will be handed out in two locations this Friday, the Potluck Café premises in the DTES and HEAT Shelter (Homeless Emergency Action Team) at Main and Terminal.

The pumpkin will provide food for AIDS Vancouver clients, Portland Hotel residents and clients, and some First Nations Brethren at the HEAT Shelter.

“Capers and Whole Foods Market has made an important commitment through their Bags for Hunger program to provide food to those in need in Vancouver. This is yet another great example of this company’s support of community agencies who work towards food security for some of the most underserved populations in Vancouver.” said David Swan, Executive Director, AIDS Vancouver.