Food is about more than just having a full belly, access to quality nutrition is directly related to the quality of life and impacts our ability to connect.
Cooking can be a source of pleasure and pride but can become increasingly difficult with limited resources. Recently, I heard the story of a senior who was able to access a robust set of groceries because of the Food Share Network. With this food, she was able to prepare a large meal, share it with her neighbours, and make it a weekly event.
It’s clear that the impact of having access to quality ingredients goes beyond simple concepts of nutrition; a batch of groceries can be transformed into a community event. This ability to provide for oneself and others creates a sense of dignity and independence that is so important for people to thrive.
That’s why I’m proud our government is stepping up to ensure people across British Columbia have access to fresh, nutritious, affordable food when they need it most. Food insecurity affects the health of approximately 50,000 people in the capital region and around half a million people provincewide.
This week our government awarded grants to five projects through the new Provincial Food Security Initiatives Fund which will increase access to quality food from Surrey to Bella Coola. This investment represents $1.1 million of the $3 million we awarded to the Victoria Foundation last spring and will help local organizations develop local food hubs, increase knowledge about sustainable food sources and help people foster food-based employment skills.
The remaining $1.9 million went to the Mustard Seed Food Bank to secure a permanent home for its food security distribution centre here in my constituency. This is the central collection point for the Food Share Network, a collaboration of more than 50 organizations including non-profits, First Nations, school districts and other community agencies that operate food security programs in the Greater Victoria area.
This investment brought an end to the uncertainty of the organization’s future and has brought stability to the site and organizers. An industrial space in Esquimalt, this facility is positioned in an ideal location, as its centrality minimizes the operation’s carbon footprint. Every day they “rescue” around 4,000 lbs of food that would otherwise end up in the waste system. This food, much of it produce, is donated by generous grocers in the capital region.
Food arrives and is processed and then distributed to the 50 different member organizations so that people can access this high-quality food in their community.
But the Mustard Seed’s work goes beyond supplying food banks, their location is also home to a growing system of food security programs, food literacy initiatives and other community social supports. By providing education surrounding the story of our food, they are empowering people to make informed choices that take into account bodily health, the environment and the economy.
Tackling food insecurity is a complex issue, but our government is committed to partnering with organizations that are making accessing healthy food easier. By working collaboratively, we are addressing gaps in affordability so that people in Greater Victoria and across this province have the opportunity to live healthy, full lives.