A Better Life Foundation

A Better Life Foundation Founded in 2012, ABLF seeks to alleviate food insecurity and other barriers to well-being in the DTES

A Better Life Foundation (ABLF) supports people in need by raising critical funds for food security to women, children, and those in assisted living as well as provide job training and employment opportunities for the community at large. By looking for and working towards sustainable solutions, ABLF aims to contribute towards meaningful change.

Paid Summer Employment Opportunities!We’re excited to share a summer full of events, impact, and meaningful work centred...
05/26/2026

Paid Summer Employment Opportunities!

We’re excited to share a summer full of events, impact, and meaningful work centred around food and community.

Through Canada Summer Jobs, we’re hiring for the following roles. Candidates must be ages 15–30:

**Events Assistant**
Help coordinate our flagship Plenty of Plates program and support some exciting new offerings.

**Grants & AI Coordinator**
Help us find funding opportunities, strengthen systems, and use technology in service of community.

**Community Meal Production Cook**
A hands-on kitchen role supporting Food Recovery, the Indigenous Meal Program, special events, and more.

We also have opportunities through our Work Experience program, made possible by United Way BC, the Government of Canada, and the Province of British Columbia. Eligible participants are individuals facing barriers to employment who receive, or may qualify for, income assistance, disability assistance, or equivalent Indigenous/federal supports.

We’re hiring:

**Kitchen, Food Recovery & Meal Production Cooks**
Any skill level will be considered, but we’re especially looking for people who have spent time in kitchens, have been out of the workforce, and are ready to re-enter and sharpen their skills.

**Community Ambassador, Café Window & Service Support Staff**
These customer-facing teammates will be a first point of contact for peers, neighbours, and community members accessing our services and programs.

We’re proud of the meaningful, supportive, and fun workplace we share with our team, and encourage folks from every corner of this community to apply.

These are opportunities to make a difference in our community while building skills, confidence, and experience for yourself.

Please share widely, and visit the Careers section under “Get Involved” on our website for more information.

These roles are supported through Canada Summer Jobs and the United Way BC Work Experience Grant, funded by the Government of Canada and the Province of British Columbia.

We hope that everyone got to enjoy a special moment with their mothers and their children today. We love making moments,...
05/11/2026

We hope that everyone got to enjoy a special moment with their mothers and their children today.

We love making moments, we love our community - a whole lot.

To help make those moments a little extra special for some of the mothers we serve every day, our team spread some love in what’s become a yearly tradition. Our Annual Mother’s Day Crab Boil!

We shared it with about 100+ DTES Moms and their families and it was delicious! So many shared that crab was their absolute favourite meal - and a few had never tried it before. We cleared ~200lbs of crab in a cheerful sunny afternoon and loved seeing the mothers celebrated so vibrantly.

A plate of crab is special any day of the week. We were able to offer these moms as much as they wanted. Some came back for seconds, some for thirds - a few even for fourths. What a privilege to be able to say yes.

HUGE thanks to ABLF board member Steve Stark for donating the crab, cooking it all and bringing his family to spend the day with us. We’re honoured to have him as a guiding vision for our Indigenous Meal Program and deeply grateful for his support. Huge shout out to our team, many of which stepped away from their family celebrations to make today happen.

But the biggest admiration and gratitude for the mothers and the families we serve, not just today but everyday. We are lost without them and their energies are the beacons that make optimism, purpose and community possible.

Happy Mother’s Day to Moms far and wide!

Imagine being Coast Salish and not having access to salmon? Many of the people we serve are indigenous representing ever...
04/23/2026

Imagine being Coast Salish and not having access to salmon?

Many of the people we serve are indigenous representing every corner of Turtle Island, many of which are without regular access to traditional ingredients. It’s much more than preference, these foods connect people to these lands, history and identity.

Our Indigenous Meal Program incorporates ingredients indigenous to these lands into our recipes. Creating options like:

Sumac Baked Salmon, Three Sister's Hash & Mashed Potato

Roasted Turkey, Sweet Potato Hash, Mashed & Blueberry Sauce

Dandelion Pesto Rotini, Sautéed Vegetables & Turkey

Bison Stew over roasted potatoes

We’re very proud to offer these meals and just as proud of the meaningful employment they create.

We aspire to host learning seminars where indigenous youth have the opportunity to learn traditional cookery, methods and how to use these ingredients.

We can't wait to break down an elk with our neighbours later this year!

There was so much to celebrate this past Saturday.Most importantly, we had the honour of celebrating a major milestone w...
03/17/2026

There was so much to celebrate this past Saturday.

Most importantly, we had the honour of celebrating a major milestone with our Community Ambassador, Jacob, on his one year of sobriety. We are incredibly proud of Jacob, the journey he has been on, and the hard decisions and deep commitment that got him here.

We first met Jacob about six months ago when he joined us as a guest, and we connected with him right away. Not long after, he reached out and asked how he could become more involved as a volunteer.

Shortly after that, he enrolled in our Work Experience Opportunities Grant program, administered through the Ministry of Social Development and Poverty Reduction and United Way. By the time that opportunity came to a close, it was obvious to all of us that Jacob had become essential. We were proud to keep him on as a permanent member of our team.

And he's been absolutely killing it since. A friendly face ensuring folks know when the next Plenty of Plates is and that same smile greeting them when they arrive.

A HUGE thank you to BCLC and the Vancouver Canucks for creating such a special opportunity to celebrate Jacob, alongside some of his teammates, at their aptly themed Community Heroes Night. It was a beautiful evening that recognized the incredible work being done by community leaders, organizations, and partners across our city. We were proud to be included among them.

For some members of our team, this was their first time ever attending a hockey game, let alone being hosted in a VIP suite with some of the best seats in the house. It was a night to remember. While the scoreboard may not have reflected the outcome we were all hoping for, the evening was full of pride, connection, and community - with a healthy dose of fun!

We are deeply grateful to both BCLC and the Vancouver Canucks, not only for hosting such a meaningful night, but for the genuine partnership they have shown over the last year. From hosting multiple Plenty of Plates events, to collaborating on Nourish the Neighbourhood, to helping bring an ambitious large-scale community meal to life right at Rogers Arena, they have continued to show up.

We are incredibly proud of Jacob and of our whole team. Opportunities like this mean a lot. They give our staff a chance to step out of the kitchen, be celebrated, build deeper connections with one another, and feel the care and appreciation they so deeply deserve.

Thank you again to BCLC and the Vancouver Canucks for making the night a memorable one. And a big shout out to all of the other community partners, friends, peers, and allies we were lucky enough to celebrate alongside.

Address

43 West Hastings Street
Vancouver, BC
V6B1G4

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