User:Thedugout59/sandbox

The Dugout The Dugout Drop-In Society (referred to as "The Dugout") is a non-profit society located in the Downtown Eastside of Vancouver, Canada. The Dugout offers one of the longest running meal and safe space outreach programs in the province of British Columbia. The Dugout's mission is "to provide a supportive safe space to the disadvantaged residents of Vancouver's Downtown Eastside, which is achieved through serving over 600 people per day. For more than 50 years, the Dugout has been a valued resource in the community and a supportive safe space for vulnerable people in the community . History Bob Burrows established the Dugout Drop-In Centre in December 1967 as a “community living room” for the residents of Vancouver's Downtown Eastside. It has been open virtually everyday since inception, offering soup, coffee and baked goods throughout the day. The center began hosting daily Alcoholics Anonymous meetings in April 1968 and continues to do so today. In the late 1970s, to prevent the Dugout from losing its rental space, the City of Vancouver purchased the building at 59 Powell Street, and has owned the space since. Throughout the 1980s, The Dugout began offering soup, coffee and buns each morning with the aim of providing a nourishing hot meal to guests each day free of charge. This tradition continues today, giving residents of the DTES an opportunity to gather together in the community and access to food and coffee. Today The Dugout continues to operate today, providing a safe space to over 600 people each day in the heart of the downtown eastside. It is run almost entirely by committed volunteers, who donate their time each week to ensure that the Dugout remains operational. In addition to volunteer time, the Dugout receives donations of bread and pastries each day from local bakers and supermarkets, which they distribute to guests at the center. The Dugout has continued the morning soup-line for over 30 years and hosts AA meetings at lunchtime each day.