Improved Food Security For Strathcona Region

Groups working to improve food security in the Strathcona region are getting a $90,000 boost from the United Way this year.

Groups working to improve food security in the Strathcona region are getting a $90,000 boost from the United Way this year.

The funds will go towards the continued operation of the Strathcona Food Hub, which is a group of community partners who collaborate to improve on and make positive change to food systems in the region.

The Food Hub received funding from the United Way last year as well, which was used to hire program coordinator Madison Stewart. Two of the main goals of the hub were to improve Indigenous food systems and emergency food preparedness.

Stewart highlighted two programs: a new butchering facility for the Ehattisaht First Nation, which would allow “their members to be able to safely butcher locally caught elk and eventually possibly have that turn into a social enterprise for the Nation.”

Through the coordinator, the hub was able to secure an additional $100,000 in funding which was used for a variety of projects including increased food storage for the Gold River food bank, the Cortes Island Meals on Wheels program, the Mowachaht/Muchalaht First Nation’s Traditional Knowledge Keeper position, and the Greenways Land Trust’s Good Food Box hamper program.

This year Stewart hopes to coordinate with Sayward and Gold River.