One idea that could result from the Community Food Action Initiative is extending the operation of the Oliver Food Bank. File photo
Interior Health, through the Community Food Action Initiative (CFAI), has provided a total of $60,000 to help build food security in four communities, including the Town of Oliver.
The initiative is part of a province-wide strategy to increase food security programs and encourage British Columbians to make healthy food choices.
“Food security exists when all people, at all times, have access to food that is nutritious and safe in order to maintain an active and healthy life – achieving food security is a community effort, said Rose Soneff, Public Health Dietitian with Interior Health. “Local governments, businesses, farmers, organizations and citizens all have an important role to play and the CFAI program supports them to do that.”
The CFAI provides grants of $15,000 annually to each community over the next three years to increase the community’s ability to contribute to the growth and development of their local food system.
The funding will help recipients develop and implement community-wide food security plans. The projects will address various aspects along the food system such as growing, distributing, accessing, marketing, celebrating and preparing food, as well as managing food waste.
“We are pleased to partner with Interior Health to implement a plan that will ensure residents have access to locally grown food that can result in a healthier life,” said Diane Vaykovich, corporate officer with the Town of Oliver. “Our council is very aware of the significant value of agriculture in our community and we want to be a leader in British Columbia by developing a food security plan for our residents.”
The Okanagan Similkameen Healthy Living Coalition held a stakeholder meeting last fall to discuss ideas, such as:
– Increasing the days of operation at the Oliver Food Bank
– Increasing the use of soup kitchens
– Offering workshops on canning and preserving
– Create community cold storage (food lockers) for people
– Establish a 12-month farmers’ co-op
– Investigate a food charter
