Volunteers load hundreds of packed Good Food Boxes into a new van, purchased by Nanaimo Foodshare with funding from the provincial government and United Way BC. (Alex Rawnsley/NanaimoNewsNOW)

By Alex Rawnsley

GOOD FOOD

‘The need is so high:’ local food security programs boosted by new provincial funding

Aug 23, 2024 | 5:29 AM

NANAIMO — New funding from the provincial government is going directly towards improving food security across the region.

Over $4 million was added to the Critical Food Infrastructure Fund, administered by United Way BC, to support organizations across the province in ensuring access to healthy, locally-grown food in their communities.

Emily Rees, food security manager for regional community food hubs with United Way, told NanaimoNewsNOW they awarded Nanaimo Foodshare $41,000 for a new delivery van.

“Today there’s 400 Good Food Boxes being prepared and put together and they all have to go to different places. Some people are able to come and pick them up, but others aren’t able to leave their homes whether they’re seniors, have mobility issues, live in group homes or live in remote communities.”

The subscription-based Nanaimo Good Food Box provides seven to nine different fruits and vegetables at a set cost each week.

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Nanaimo Foodshare picked up the van on Wednesday, Aug. 21 and put it into action the following day for its weekly deliveries.

It will be used on a regular basis to help the ever-growing demand for fresh produce, from those in difficult situations who might otherwise go without.

“The need is so high. The grant applications coming in, we’ve been able to see we need food infrastructure. They need buildings to process, they need vans to transport the food, equipment on farms to grow the food so all parts of the food system are needing to be developed further.”

Fresh produces, purchased wholesale by Nanaimo Foodshare, is then distributed to a wide network of subscribers every week. Each box contains a good array of different items, which changes every week. (Alex Rawnsley/NanaimoNewsNOW)

Crystal Carson has volunteered with Nanaimo Foodshare for almost 20 years.

She’s also a recipient of the Good Food Box.

“I’m on a fixed income and I can’t afford to buy groceries every week so that’s why I rely on the Good Food Box to get ahead.”

She added that the addition of a vehicle to Foodshare’s fleet will enable them to deliver quality produce to people who need it more efficiently.

“A lot of people don’t have driver’s licenses, or can’t drive, so they depend on the drivers to deliver to a lot of people around Nanaimo.”

Also included in the latest round of funding was $100,000 for Snuneymuxw First Nation to purchase commercial refrigerators, ovens and 250 fruit trees.

Money will also go towards training programs on equipment usage, plant care and emergency preparedness.

Ladysmith Family and Friends Society also received $17,954 to hire a food equity coordinator, expand their Food Pantry program and increase the number of kitchen hours to prepare food.

A full list of grant recipients is available here.

Volunteers feverishly packed the Good Food Boxes on Thursday, Aug. 22 inside the Centennial Building at Beban Park. (Alex Rawnsley/NanaimoNewsNOW)

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