If there was a disaster in South Delta, such as a tsunami or an earthquake, and people were displaced from their homes, where would they eat?
That was a question the Tsawwassen Boundary Bay Lions club asked Delta council prior to moving ahead with their $75,000 Streetside Community Kitchen project.
"When we sat down and started talking about this we were concerned about people who might be displaced by an emergency," explains Roger Lasell, club member and chairperson of the food trailer project.
The biggest issue with a major emergency like an earthquake is that buildings could become unstable and unsuitable to service food to people, says Lasell.
Steve Scott stands inside the Streetside Community Kitchen. Photo: Adrian MacNair.
The solution is this 26-foot-long full-service mobile kitchen, capable of running for 28 hours on its fuel supply, and can be hitched up to any one-ton pickup truck.
"We wanted to make sure that if we build this, the Corporation would be supportive of the idea," says Lasell, before adding the club did not ask for any money.
The project was fully funded by corporate sponsors and donations, including $7,000 of equipment from BC Ferries, and $5,000 from the Delta Agricultural Society.
It took two and a half years in design and construction, but Lasell says the biggest challenge was in finding a suitable trailer to house the kitchen.
The trailer can hold 80 gallons of water, with an instant hot water system, 36-inch grill, 24-inch char, two deep friers, and all the amenities of a full service kitchen.
"Up to eight people can be in there dealing with cooking, dealing with serving, there's lots of room," says Lasell.
The goal now is to use the mobile kitchen at service clubs or corporate events in order to demonstrate its usefulness and receive donations for the Tsawwassen Boundary Bay Lions club.
For more information, email streetsidecommunitykitchen@gmail.com.