Our mission
Welcome to MultiCaf, a community organization located in Côte-des-Neiges. Our mission is to provide food assistance to low-income families and individuals, to encourage and support their efforts in becoming self-sufficient and active members in their community, as well as to increase public awareness of the problems created by poverty.
Membership
All those who benefit from our services are automatically considered to be members of MultiCaf.
Rules of Conduct
At MultiCaf we strive to maintain a warm and welcoming atmosphere for all those who come here. For this reason we ask our members to kindly observe the following rules and principles:
1) Members shall maintain a respectful attitude with respect to themselves and others. No aggressive behaviour, verbal or physical, will be tolerated.
2) The consumption of alcohol and the use of drugs on the premises are forbidden. Anyone under the influence of these substances will be refused entry and asked to leave immediately.
3) Smoking is not allowed on the premises.
4) Personal hygiene is a must. Clean clothes and proper attire are mandatory.
5) All members shall respect the property of others. Theft will not be tolerated, and the perpetrator may be prosecuted.
6) Solicitation and/or business transactions of any kind are not permitted.
7) Possession of dangerous objects and/or weapons is strictly forbidden.
8) Respect the queue when lining up for meals, surpluses, food baskets as well as for the milk program. Please wait until your number is called before standing in line.
9) In order to ensure that everyone is able to find somewhere to sit, seats may not be reserved for others and each member may occupy only one chair.
10) Everyone is responsible for the payment of their meal or food basket.
11) If there is food on the lunch tray that you do not wish to keep – please inform the server at the counter but do not handle the items yourself.
12) It is forbidden to solicit and bring home food items from other members’ trays.
13) If you do not wish to keep certain items from your food basket, these should be returned to the counter.
14) Please do your part to keep the premises clean:
-return your food tray after meals.
-keep the bathrooms clean.
-return your coffee cups after use.
15) No one may leave the cafeteria with items belonging to MultiCaf.
The Code of Ethics is the fruit of an inclusive and extensive consultation process and as such it belongs to all those who benefit from services at MultiCaf. Its purpose is to ensure that MultiCaf be a warm and welcoming environment and also to allow for a relaxed atmosphere for socializing. In addition, it is the respect of these rules and principles that allows the staff to work in a setting that is both safe and respectful.
Failing to respect or conform to the Code of Ethics will entail sanctions ranging from a verbal warning to an expulsion. Our permanent staff is responsible for application of these regulations.
Any complaints should be directed to either a staff member, one of the coordinators or to an employee from the administration. Complaints may also be addressed to the Director as well as to a member representative from the Governing Board.
Rules of Operation for the Cafeteria and the Food Bank
Opening hours
MultiCaf is open Monday through Thursday from 9:00 am to 4:00 pm and Fridays from 11 am to 4 pm. Holiday closures will be posted in advance on the bulletin board.
Breakfast
Breakfast is served, free of charge, Monday through Thursday from 9:30 am to 10:30 am. Please wait in line at the cafeteria for your tray, although coffee is always available on a self-serve basis. We ask that our members be considerate of the fact that the choice of items for breakfast is limited by the food donations that we receive at MultiCaf.
Lunch
Lunch is served from 11:45 am to 1:00 pm. It is important to take a number upon arrival at the entrance from 9:00 am to 1:00 pm. It is not possible to enter the line until your number is called although members are free to wait in the cafeteria if they desire.
The price of a full course meal is $1.50 for adults, and 75 cents for children. A meal card is also available for $25 and will purchase 20 meals. The card has no expiry date and is good any time. Only the card holder may use it, but he/she may purchase a meal for a friend so long as the owner of the card is present at the time and the card has paid for in full. However, staff may limit this privilege if they esteem that it is being abused by one of the parties. Cards may be left at MultiCaf if this is more convenient for the owner.
A member who cannot afford a meal will be provided with a bowl of soup and some bread.
MultiCaf cafeteria prepares the lunch meals with food that has been donated to us. For this reason, while we always offer two choices of main course to our clients, we are not able to change what is being offered for lunch on any particular day. For health reasons, we strongly advise our members not to exchange unwrapped food amongst themselves. Remember, you may not be aware of the health concerns of the person you wish to share with.
Once you have finished your meal please return you tray to the racks that have been stationed near the kitchen. Taking food from other trays on the rack is not allowed.
In order to give everyone the chance of having a first meal, any member who wishes to pay for a second meal must wait until 12:45 to do so.
An announcement will be made 5 minutes before 1:00 pm indicating if there will be a surplus of food from the lunch meal to take out. Those who wish to partake should line up beside the first column, and have their own containers ready. We do not supply plastic bags.
Food bank
Food baskets are available to residents of Côte-des-Neiges and Snowdon once a month. The service is offered on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays from 9:00 am to 10:30 am. A food basket will include fruits, vegetables, cereals, meat or meat substitutes and dairy products. In addition, when it is possible, food baskets may also contain non-perishables such as personal hygiene products and household items.
Members who wish to receive a food basket are requested to take a number at the entrance when they arrive and to wait until their number has been called before lining up.
To be eligible for a food basket you must bring proof that you reside in Cô te-des-Neiges or Snowdon. A current bill from Hydro-Quebec, your telephone company or Gaz metropolitain that clearly shows your name and address is sufficient as proof of residence. A letter from Emploi-Quebec is also valid. On your first visit you must also bring proof of identity as well of proof if you are collecting for other members in your family. A token fee of 1 dollar per residence is charged for a food basket at each visit.
Telephone
A phone are available to our members for local calls (dial 9 first). Remember: there are often several people waiting to use the phone at one time – so please limit your call to five minutes so that others may have a chance as well.
Newspapers
There are newspapers in both languages for our members to read. Those who wish to bring one home should wait until 1:00 pm.
Computers
Three are at the disposal of members in a small room that has been reserved for that purpose. They are equipped with Internet connections and a printer. In order to have access to the computers, it is necessary to fill out a form to register and to pay a fee of $5.00. Computer use is limited to a period of certain amount of time per week, or by appointment if a machine is free. Assistance for beginners is available.
Social affairs and community activities
MultiCaf is also a meeting place where members may freely exchange their views, share their successes, take part in information sessions on social issues or legal rights and participate in demonstrations and other activities to raise awareness.
Our calendar of social events is a busy one, with group visits to the theatre, museums, sugaring-off, apple picking, as well as summer outings to picnics, the beach, and our summer camp, and finally our Cinécaf movies on Wednesdays. Our regular members have priority for signing up for these popular events, and there may be certain conditions that are imposed during the inscription process (e.g. not more than two reservations per person). The activities are posted well in advance on our bulletin board.
Food buying group and the Collective kitchen groups
Our food buying group and collective kitchen group are not currently in operation.
Participation of the members
Our members are entitled and encouraged to participate democratically in our organization through the yearly general assembly, through the board meetings and through occasional public assemblies.
Last update on “MultiCaf – Code of Ethics” November 10th, 2005.
