ElevATE Society: Cultivating Community Connections
Founded in the spring of 2021, ElevATE Society is a registered charity that empowers individuals with barriers to employment through culinary social enterprises. Under the leadership of Executive Director Tabitha Geraghty, ElevATE Society offers training and job opportunities to help individuals overcome challenges and build stable lives.
ElevATE Society is the brainchild of Dr. Sharah Sampath, who founded the non-profit to teach his children the importance of giving back. Since 2021, ElevATE has been wheeling its mission forward with its first social enterprise, CultivATE, a food truck that provides practical training and employment for graduates of ElevATE's programs.
By employing people in the service industry, CultivATE provides hands-on experience that not only builds confidence but also builds a solid foundation for individuals to pursue stable employment, making it a vital step toward achieving long-term success. As Tabitha puts it, “if you work in the service sector you will never go hungry and can always find work.”
A Mission Driven by Community and Compassion
Over a short time, CultivATE has made a significant impact in the community. Most recently, CultivATE has successfully trained and employed Ukrainian refugee women, equipping them with the skills to support their families and settle into new lives with greater confidence and stability.
Additionally, CultivATE is committed to providing a fair wage to the team as it is essential to their mission. However, this commitment comes with financial pressures that are difficult to sustain, especially in an industry where customer spending is down, and competition is fierce.
Despite these hurdles, CultivATE’s dedication to its mission remains unwavering, as it continues to seek innovative solutions to bridge these gaps and create lasting impact. This Fall, they plan to launch a meal delivery program, aiming to help bridge the seasonal gaps in the food truck business, allowing CultivATE to maintain a consistent workforce throughout the year.
With a small core team, the organization relies on the dedication of volunteers and community partners. According to Tabitha, the support of community partners like the Richmond Chamber and Vancity has helped ElevATE Society thrive and succeed. Tabitha emphasizes that the small, everyday victories matter most, saying "success to me is the difference you can make in one person's life.”
Supported by the Richmond community, ElevATE Society encourages local businesses to consider ordering meals that make a difference—catering for a staff meeting, special event, or through the CultivATE food truck. Each meal is meaningful, directly contributing to the mission of empowering individuals and creating positive change in their lives.
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