It's hard to believe that in communities such as Delta there are residents who go to bed with an empty stomach.
The Delta Food Coalition is a network of community groups working together to address local food security issues. Its goals are to decrease hunger, improve nutritional health and increase local food sustainability.
The coalition takes on these challenges through several programs that focus on the issues of nutrition, health and obesity, food waste and distribution, and poverty.
"To achieve food security for all, every individual must have access to healthy, nutritious food. It must be based on an equitable, regenerative food system that builds community and supports the needs of future generations," says Hadas Levy, program coordinator at Earthwise Society.
As the lead agency for the Delta Food Coalition, Earthwise Society coordinates three main programs to help attain these goals:
The Shared Harvest program reaches out to homeowners who have an excess of fruit or vegetables on their trees or in their gardens and don't want to see it go to waste. Volunteers pick the produce, which is shared with the homeowners and local families in need.
The Family Harvest Box program helps families with lower incomes access fresh, organic produce. Parents and children come to the Earthwise Farm to get hands-on skills in growing andusing organic vegetables. Families help outwith harvesting, planting and other tasks alongside Earthwise volunteers and/or staff,and receive a Harvest Box of fresh, organic produce at the end of every session.
The Pocket Market program brings a taste of Earthwise to the community by setting up mini farmers markets at local seniors’residences. Many seniors struggle with limited mobility, so these pocket markets give them access to a selection of fresh, organic produce and other nutritious farm products.
If you would like to get involved with any of the Delta Food Coalition programs, call 604-946-9828 or email info@earthwisesociety.bc.ca.
