On May 26, 2012, staff from the Vancouver and Surrey offices of MacKay LLP volunteered at The LivingRoom Drop-in Activity Centre in Vancouver's Downtown Eastside neighborhood to prepare and serve a meal for 150 people. Led by Principal and chef Craig Elliott, the volunteers chopped vegetables, cooked 50 pounds of ground beef and 7 pounds of rice in an old-fashioned stove. They then served the beef and vegetable stew over rice, salad, bread and dessert to grateful guests. In addition to the nutritious meal, each person also received a pair of socks and granola bar. Both volunteers and guests enjoyed the afternoon of teamwork and sharing a meal together.

1. An Afternoon in The Living Room
groups to chop fresh celery, carrots, onions,
peppers, cauliflower and toss the salad while he
nonchalantly browned over 50 pounds of
ground beef and cooked 7 pounds of rice.
On Saturday May 26, 2012 staff from the
Vancouver and Surrey offices of MacKay LLP
assembled at The LivingRoom Drop‐in Activity
Centre in the Downtown Eastside to prepare a
meal for those with challenges.
One of the unique challenges of the day was
Lookout Emergency Aid Society is a non‐profit,
working with a flat‐top, iron stove, a throwback
charitable organization, providing services to
to earlier times. Here Craig deftly browns the
adult men and women who cope with a wide
beef and boils mushroom stock.
variety of challenges including mental illness,
mental handicaps, medical problems, physical
disabilities, social dysfunctions, substance
abuse or ‐ more frequently ‐ a combination of
issues. Lookout has been providing solutions to
homelessness since 1971. The LivingRoom is
one of over 20 facilities operated by the
Lookout Society throughout Greater Vancouver.
On Saturday, a group of enthusiast accountants
under the tutelage of master chef Craig Elliott
(Craig, a Principal at Mackay LLP, is also an
accomplished chef) assembled to prepare a
nutritious meal for 150 of The Living Room
members. The menu – a vegetable and beef
stew served over brown rice with a green salad, Ninety minutes later, the meal was ready for
bun and dessert ‐ was carefully planned and all the oven.
the ingredients purchased the day before.
Craig’s management skills were on fine display.
He effortlessly organized the 13 volunteers into

2. An Afternoon in The Living Room
The oven, although larger than a typical home In addition to the meal, everyone also received
oven, was too small to accommodate all of the a pair of socks with a granola bar stuffed inside.
trays simultaneously. Trays and pans were Socks are in short supply in the Downtown
strategically placed and then kept warm on top. Eastside and they were greatly appreciated.
While the meal was cooking, the group relaxed
off‐site over lunch and reassembled at The The afternoon was fun everyone. The extra
LivingRoom to prepare for the meal serving at 4 hands and teamwork made easy work of it all.
p.m. As dinner time approached, The But more importantly, the meal was
LivingRoom began to fill with men and women appreciated by the entire group. The MacKay
from the neighborhood anxiously awaiting a LLP team donated food and time but were
delicious meal. rewarded by a hungry and appreciative crowd.
Promptly at 4 p.m., the dinners were served to Kudos to the MacKay LLP team for making this a
the seated guests. The group took turns special day for the Downtown Eastside
running cutlery, plates and dessert to the tables residents.
with many of the guests requesting seconds,
particularly portions of the cake.
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