The Food Security Action Group is made up of healthy food promoters, soup kitchens, food banks, agriculturalists, church groups, local food promoters, funders and policy makers. Despite the severity of the experience, only 1 in 5 food insecure households access traditional food charities.
The Food Security Action Group supports the model of a Community Food Centre (CFC), or a hub model to better meet community needs. This model leverages the power of community and creates a sense of belonging that empower all community members to advocate for a better food system. Community Food Centres or Hubs challenge the line between giver and receiver by giving everyone a place and inviting people with lived experience to be involved in program creation and delivery. Learn more about Grey Bruce community food programs in this video prepared by Stephanie Methner.
The Food Security Hub Project brings community organizations, municipal leaders, food producers, and community members to the table for action focused discussions on their communities food security needs. The project is a partnership with the United Way of Bruce Grey, Grey Bruce Sustainability Network, the Grey Bruce Health Unit and the Poverty Task Force. In 2019, we held 5 Food Security Community Conversations and an Annual Fall Food Gathering.
The Food Security Action Group supports a local gleaning program that promotes Grey Bruce donors (farmers, producers, restaurants, grocery stores) to donate food to recipients (food banks, hot meal programs, community kitchens, etc.).
The Keeping Not-For-Profits Connected During COVID-19 connects partners working with community meal programs, food banks and school nutrition programs to share surplus food donations through the FoodRescue.ca program. Food security data is collected on the Bruce Grey Food App. The Bruce Grey Food App is an innovative example of the way in which communities are harnessing private-and-non-profit partnerships in response deep-rooted poverty challenges.
3 thoughts on “Food Security”