East Coast Kitchen event in support of the Yukon Food Bank on May 3
The focus of the Rotary Club of Whitehorse Rendezvous is to give back to the community
The Rotary Club of Whitehorse Rendezvous is bringing back its soon-to-be-annual East Coast Kitchen Party this spring, with food by Kit’s Kitchen, beers from Winterlong Brewing and a night of dancing.
The event, now in its second year, takes place May 3 at the Kwanlin Dün Cultural Centre (KDCC) and will raise funds for the Yukon Food Bank’s new kitchen.
“The focus of the Rotary Club of Whitehorse Rendezvous is to give back to the community,” says Rotary Club President-elect Susan Graves. “Last year was the first big event our Rotary Club has done since Covid, and we wanted to try something new.
One of the local Rotary Clubs used to do a lobster fest, which was a big event, so we thought, why not try a similar theme with a twist, and along came the East Coast Kitchen Party.”
Upon learning that the Yukon Food Bank had plans for a new kitchen and could use some funds to put towards it, Graves and the Rotary Club found it fitting to have a kitchen party benefit a community kitchen.
“We also know kitchens are not cheap, and our club wanted to host this event again, so here we are, hosting the East Coast Kitchen Party 2.0,” she says. “It made sense to host it for the Yukon Food Bank’s kitchen, as their need for a new kitchen is still there.”
The party starts at 6 p.m., and continues until midnight. In addition to food, drinks and dancing, the Fiddleheads will be providing live music as folks are welcomed in, and a silent auction will take place throughout the evening. Attendees will also have the chance to to ‘kiss the cod’, Yukon style.
“For those who attended last year, it will be very similar,” says Graves. “Kit’s Kitchen will be catering another amazing dinner with her own East Coast twist, the Leesiders will be playing amazing East Coast music, and the Fiddleheads will be welcoming everyone in.
There will be some amazing items at the silent auction table to bid on, which have sponsors from Air North, Kilrich, Whitehorse Motors, and Midnight Sun Coffee Roasters, to name a few. There will be a bar for those who want to indulge and there will be more variety at the bar this year, including non-alcoholic drinks.
Graves notes that the Rotary Club could not have put this event on without the support of sponsors Atco Electric, Winterlong Brewing, and Northland Beverages, as well as Kilrich Industries, Inspired Interiors, and Whitehorse Motors. In addition to the sponsors, Graves says she has a small but dedicated team who helped get this event off the ground.
“The night of the event, there will be volunteers from Rotary and the Yukon Food Bank to ensure that everyone’s night is as memorable as last year and that fun is had by all,” she says.
The first edition raised around $20,000 for the Yukon Food Bank, and Dave Blottner, executive director of the Food Bank Society of the Yukon, says he is thrilled to be back for another year.
“Last year’s Kitchen Party was such a fantastic event — bringing the community together for a great cause and a great time,” he says. “This year promises to be just as memorable. The Leesiders are back to get the party going, and we’re excited to have the Fiddleheads kicking things off and setting the tone.”
The Rotary Club raises funds and provides ‘hands on’ support for a variety of local projects and organizations. The Food Bank Society of the Yukon is a community-based organization providing emergency food to people in need, and is currently serving over 1900 people a month.
“A commercial kitchen at our downtown location will be a game-changer,” says Blottner. “It will allow us to rescue more food and break down bulk donations into manageable portions for our clients — something our board, staff, and volunteers have dreamed about for years. We’re incredibly excited to see that dream coming closer to reality!”
Since the event sold out within two weeks last year, Graves encourages wishful attendees to get their tickets right away. Each ticket costs $100 and they can be purchased online through Eventbrite.
“People were talking about this event months later, after last year’s kitchen party and asked if we would be doing it again,” says Graves. “Not only will you be attending an evening of fun, live music, great food, and great memories, but you will also be supporting a great cause and giving back to the community.”
To learn more about the Food Bank Society of the Yukon, visit whitehorsefoodbank.ca. To keep up with the Rotary Club of Whitehorse Rendezvous and find tickets for the East Coast Kitchen Party and other upcoming events, visit portal.clubrunner.ca/2496
“Kit’s Kitchen is cooking up an incredible east coast-themed feast, and you can count on plenty of screech and song to go around,” says Blottner. “It’s shaping up to be an unforgettable night — you definitely won’t want to miss it!”
