People of the OCQ: Randy
From Plates to Purpose: How One Nanaimo Bartender Is Feeding More Than Just Hunger
Where local cuisine and conversation flow with ease, bartender Randy is doing more than mixing cocktails—he’s leading a quiet but powerful effort to fight hunger. From behind the bar at Black Rabbit Kitchen in the Old City Quarter, Randy is using his passion for food and community to help support a local organization feed people.
Behind the bar is someone quietly tackling one of society’s most solvable problems – food insecurity.
“I used to be a chef and food has always meant a lot to me. It’s how I connect with people,” he explains. “So when my wife, who works in community health, started sharing stories from the food bank, it hit me hard. People waiting in line, hungry, humiliated, often with nothing more than rice or stale bread to carry them through.”
He decided to do something about it.
What began with a single donation bin in a local restaurant has grown into a multi-season, community-powered campaign supporting Loaves and Fishes, the community food bank in Nanaimo. Randy has now organized five winter drives and, for the first time this year, a summer campaign.
“People tend to think about giving around Christmas, but hunger doesn’t go on holiday,” explains Randy. “In the summer, kids are home from school and not getting meals there. Food prices are through the roof. It’s a silent crisis.”
This summer, Randy is raising funds through tip donations, themed cocktails, and discounts for those who show proof of charitable giving at White Rabbit and Black Rabbit Kitchen. Last winter, with the support of businesses in the Old City Quarter, they raised over $6,000. This summer, he’s aiming for $1,000.
“It’s not hard to help,” says Randy. “You don’t need to change the world overnight. Just share a post, leave a can of soup, donate five bucks. It adds up.”
What is most inspiring is how Randy’s work is changing the narrative. By making giving accessible, social, and even fun, he’s helping strip the shame from food bank reliance. “People just want to feel human,” he says. “They want something more than the bare minimum. A cup of tea. A good meal. A little dignity.”
He hopes to raise $50,000 for food banks over his lifetime. “That’s my goal. If I can do that, I’ll feel like I’ve done my part.”
But Randy doesn’t want to do it alone. He believes every neighborhood, every business, and every restaurant can do what he’s doing. It doesn’t take much to make a huge impact.
“I’m just one guy behind a bar,” he laughs. “Imagine what we could do if more of us tried.”
Let’s not wait for winter to care. Hunger doesn’t.
How You Can Help:
Donate to Loaves and Fishes via their website or Instagram link.
Show your receipt at White Rabbit Coffee or Black Rabbit Kitchen for a discount.
Bring Non-Perishable Items to White Rabbit Coffee or Black Rabbit Kitchen
Spread the Word by sharing this story and supporting local fundraising efforts.
Start a donation campaign at your place of work.