Friends For Life Bike Rally - A Benefit for the Toronto People With AIDS Foundation

The Food Crew is responsible for all aspects of providing two-three meals per day for all Bike Rally participants. The Food Crew is divided into two teams, each guided by a team captain who works closely with the Food Crew Steering Committee member, who has overall responsibility. The teams work on alternate meals in order to break up the work day and to ensure adequate staffing at the various locations where meals are provided. A catering company travels with the Food Crew and is responsible for supplying the majority of the food and meal preparation dishes. In addition, Rider teams are assigned to assist the Food Crew with serving and cleaning up.

A day in the life of a Food Crew member

The days begin early on the Bike Rally! Food Crew members have to get up, tear down their tent, pack up their belongings and gear, have a good breakfast and be on the road by 9:00 a.m.

Once breakfast is done (breakfast is served from 6:15-7:00 am) and all equipment and supplies have been packed up, it's on to lunch where the Food Crew lunch team does it all again. Lunch is generally served around 11:30 or 12:00, depending on when the Food Crew arrives and when the Riders begin arriving. Lunch gets “shut down”once the last of the Riders and Crew arrive.

After lunch, the Food Crew moves on to the campsite for the night. Food Crew members have time to set up their tents and get settled before the supper rush. A snack table is also set up by the Food Crew to ensure arriving Bike Rally participants don't starve before supper is served (generally from 6:00 – 8:00 PM). Evening activities planned by Event Relations generally begin at 8:30 p.m.

General duties

• Must be able to work in a team environment and take direction from Team Lead
• Pre-Bike Rally assistance required with packing and picking up vehicles
• Must be comfortable handling, preparing and cooking food using barbecues and large pots over portable burners
• Must be comfortable lifting heavy items such as tables, large pots of hot water, cases of pop or juice, etc.
• Ensure safety standards are met according to provided guidelines and training
• Must be flexible with respect to scheduling, as workday varies
• Must be able to set up and break down own tent
• May be required to drive oversized vehicles
• Must be available for meetings and training sessions prior to the ride
• Post-Bike Rally assistance required with transporting of vehicles and supplies and unloading at various locations upon return to Toronto

Meal duties

• Set up and tear down of food service tables
• Assisting caterer with food preparation and organize food on service tables (includes removal of items from food service vehicles)
• Ensuring food quality (check expiration dates on items, check for spoilage, placing spoilable food on ice, etc.)
• Organize food service tables for ease of service lines and serve food as appropriate
• Organize beverage station(s) and re-stock as appropriate
• Re-stock supplies as needed during meal
• Clean up and reload food service vehicles, including: cleaning of preparation and serving dishes; tearing down of meal service area; set up, monitoring and tear down of dish washing station(s); set up of garbage and recycling station and ready full bags for drop off/pick up

Food Team Leaders, additional responsibilities

• Must be able to lead a team
• Must ensure safe transportation of crew members and supplies
• Must direct crew to ensure schedules are met and food safety guidelines are followed
• Must organize rider volunteers with assistance from Food Crew Lead and Team Leader Coach
• Must communicate with Food Crew Lead to keep her/him informed of progress and problems
• Must check food stocks, and communicate reorder requests to Food Crew Lead

Interested in finding out more? Contact the Special Events Coordinator.