KW Food Swap

1. DATE/TIME/LOCATION/REGISTRATION. KW Food Swap takes place from 2pm - 4:30pm on the last Sunday of every month, beginning Sun., Sep 28. To receive a monthly event invitation, you must send a subscription email request to kwfoodswap@gmail.com. As space is limited, we will keep the swap to 12 attendees per event. Be quick to register! Event location: All Things Tea (Belmont Village), 681 Belmont Avenue W., Kitchener. There is free parking right out front the shop, as well as in a parking lot located in behind the TD Canada Trust building. Note: All Things Tea is located between Janet Lynn's Bistro and Camerons Flowers.

2. HOW IT WORKS BASICS. Please arrive at 2pm. When you arrive, you'll set up your swap items on a provided table, and you will fill out a swap card for each item. A swap card sits next to your item - on the card you complete your name, what your item is and any explanation you'd like to give about it (e.g. vegan, spicy, keep in fridge, etc.). Other swappers will write down their 'bids' on your swap card, letting you know that they have interest in your item. You'll make your own bids on other people's items. Bids are not binding, and are just a way of saying, "I have an interest in trading with you."

3. HOW MUCH TO BRING. Most swappers usually bring anywhere from 3 - 10 items. Some might bring more, some less. Please note that all trades are one-for-one barters (i.e. my strawberry jam for your bunch of Thai basil), so you'll leave with the same number of items as you came with. You can bring multiples of the same item (6 jars of pickles), or a number of different items (3 bags of macarons, 2 bottles of za'atar, 1 bunch of cilantro) - you'll still make the same number of trades. *It is encouraged to bring some samples for the trying - that's half the fun!

4. WHEN ARE TRADES MADE. Swapping usually happens about 60 - 90 minutes into an event. Everyone will wear a name tag and the hostess will make an announcement and the swapping begins! Woo hoo! Consult your swap cards, approach the people you'd like to trade with and make your swaps. Some people beeline straight to the items they covet, others hang back and let other swappers come to them. We all have a right to accept or deny swap offers as they come (remember - some people might have food allergies, etc.)

It's chaotic fun and it always works out - you'll go home brimming with yummy, delicious goodies made by your new friends.

5. NOTEWORTHY: There is no charge to attend this event. There shall be no exchange of monies for items. It is strictly bartering that will take place. This event is primarily meant to build community, friendship...around food (of course!). Susan is happy to provide hot tea on the house as we barter our way to deliciousness.

*Susan and her young son are regular volunteers at the KW Humane Society. We'd like to continue doing what we can to support the good work being done there. As such, we're happy to accept cash or item donations on the day of our events.