Embers’ story: Creating a place to belong
September 25, 2026
Embers in the community garden at Neighbour to Neighbour Community Food Centre.
When Embers talks about Neighbour to Neighbour Community Food Centre, they start with the people. “The people were so kind and welcoming,” they say. “They wouldn’t judge your situation. They just wanted to help.”
It’s a feeling they remember from their earliest days at the Community Food Centre (CFC), when they first started coming to programs shortly after the centre opened in 2017. At the time, Embers was studying social service work and volunteering in the community. Friends worked at the CFC and encouraged them to stop by.
“A lot of social service providers are crisis- or emergency-based,” Embers says. ”Whereas the CFC is community-building and preventative. It’s demonstrating to people that you matter, whether you have problems or not.” That focus on building community drew them in immediately. “I just fell in love with this space,” they recall. ”I was like, ‘I have to find a way to work here.’”
Nine years later, Embers is now the CFC’s Community Action Coordinator, where they build community by overseeing the CFC’s Advocacy Office. In their role, they help community members access supports, build self-advocacy skills, and participate in social justice and community-building initiatives.
As someone who has spent years navigating social services and then found a community at the CFC themselves, Embers understands how exhausting it can be to explain your circumstances constantly and justify your need for support. For Embers, creating a place to belong means meeting people exactly where they are. Some community members arrive at the CFC ready to jump into programs, but not all community members can participate in that way.
“Sometimes people will say, ‘I’m feeling low,’ or ‘I’m in a lot of pain,’” Embers explains. “I let them know, ‘You come and sit with us, and that’s participating. We want to see you.’” Embers shares that this simple invitation can make all the difference.
Today, Embers helps shape programs based on what community members themselves want and need. Whether it’s gardening, food programs, arts programming, social justice initiatives, or simply a place to gather, they see their role as helping others lead.
