December 2023
villagevibe News and views from the heart of Fernwood
Healthy food for families who need it In a time of ever rising costs, The Gift of Good Food offers relief for families
›› Mila Czemerys & Chantille Viaud
F
ood bank visits have skyrocketed 35% since 2019 across Canada. Soaring food prices, combined with increases on most living expenses, means there are so many families struggling to make ends meet. Most of us have experienced the pressure with rising prices this year and have had to make some hard choices to balance our budgets. Some families’ choices are being reduced to ones they shouldn’t have to make: Food or rent? Milk or vegetables? Spend time with family or wait in a food bank line? This is why, every year, Fernwood NRG raises money for the Gift of Good Food. It’s a program that provides a year’s worth of fresh produce for families who need it, with no stigma attached. The fresh produce is available in a Good Food Box every other week. It provides a consistent source of meaningful support for the families who receive it and is something they can rely on for the year. This kind of support can make all the difference. For one family, the Gift of Good Food provides relief. “I’m so grateful for this program because it has helped me feed my children fresh fruit and vegetables when times are hard and we couldn’t otherwise afford it.” For another family, the impact was felt in this program’s consistency, “This program has made the difference between us having to ration our supplies and instead knowing reliably every other week we will have fresh produce to support our family and make delicious meals.”
A huge thank you to our wonderful team of volunteers who help make the Gift of Good Food program possible! Photo: Don Craig Photography
This program goes beyond solely providing nutritional support, “It’s an amazing program that helps our family to stay healthy and nourished not only physically but emotionally as well.” And we know how people access food is also very important. “Access to fresh food is priceless; not having to go to food banks makes a world of difference.” Last year, we surpassed our goal and were able to support families across Greater Victoria. And we couldn’t have done this without support from you—our community. This year we need that support even more. The number of families who need help continues to rise. We are able to stretch dollars further through having our incredible, dedicated volunteer team, bulk buying, and sourcing local and in season produce. But we need your support to make this all work!
Our goal this year is to raise $150,000, which would allow us to support 200 families with an entire year’s worth of fresh produce. If we reach this goal, we will also surpass $1,000,000 all time donations to the cause over the past 10 years! We work with 16 community partners to distribute the boxes to families. They support marginalized people, and the families most in need, in their communities. Our partners include Songhees and Esquimalt Nations, community centers, grassroots food justice and newcomer support organizations. Our partners identify people who most need the Gift of Good Food—they do this through the relationships they’ve established in their respective communities. Each centre serves as a local pick-up location for families, and we offer delivery to those who need it. Both recipients of the Gift of Good Food and paying customers of the Good Food Box get the same
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high-quality, fresh produce from the same pick-up locations. One of our core values is to provide dignified access to food—we don’t differentiate between our paying and non-paying customers. Everyone gets the same level of quality and service. Access to healthy food is something we all deserve. No one should have to worry about where their next meal will come from, or have to decide between paying their electricity bill or buying food. When financial pressures grow and families are trying to make ends meet, they are forced to make tough choices. Families shouldn’t have to sacrifice nutrition because of cost, or feel shame because they can’t keep up with the soaring cost of everything. This year, please help us raise funds to support families to have one less worry, and donate to the Gift of Good Food. Visit thegiftofgoodfood.ca/donate to donate online or drop by the Fernwood Community Centre to donate in person.
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