Food Bank Drives, Photo Ops, Not Enough for Food Insecurity

Community Gardens may become a need in the future with diminishing farmland

At the municipal level of government there is only so much control we have over the services that may be available to our town or wards, and regardless, we must do all we can with the tools we have to enable things to work in unison and not in silos.

Food insecurity is one such issue, and, to that end, I believe we can do a more effective job by just better coordinating, enhancing, and partnering within some of our existing programs right now.

For example, all we often seem to know in regards to food insecurity is promoting food banks as a sole solution with politicians and wannabes lining up to initiate drives and get a photo op doing so, or a tweet to let people know about....donating. This is a woefully inadequate response, and I believe we could be utilizing our present assets more efficiently to attain considerably better results.

Food Banks 

Food banks are used to assist in food insecurity, a big need, but they are not nearly enough. 

Our Newmarket food bank is top notch as far as food banks go, but we can do more.

Firstly, the local (most any) food bank only give 3 days rations per month of mostly unhealthy types of canned or boxed food, and many people won't use them because of the stigma, special diets, or cost to travel for little return. So we are not alleviating the problem through food banks but supplementing it for some, therefore we need do more if the goal is really to aid people in need to be healthy. And short of them getting more disposable income to buy fresh food, we need do more with what we have by utilizing more another nearby community asset that we can turn to as a partner, the York Region Food Network.

A diminishing local sight

GOOD FOOD BOX PROGRAM 

Often confused with the Newmarket Food Pantry, or for a food bank, the York Region Food Network is not a food bank, but have operated food insecurity programs in the past that I personally was involved in, one in which we delivered free food to those unable to get to food banks including a seniors building in Ward 5, and another that still delivers healthy fresh garden food to residents which I actually dubbed,  "The Good Food Box", the name which they've now adopted, as I was involved at it's birth. The Food Network also manage the local community garden, having been involved with it since before it moved from Yonge and Eagle St.'s to its now Mulock Dr., east of Yonge St, Newmarket location.

I believe more coordination between the YRFN and the Newmarket Food Pantry will result in more healthy options

The problem traditionally with community gardens, from my observations, is those in need having to travel often to the garden sites to ensure watering and care of their plots, which can be difficult for them, even almost impossible, and for those with small kids or disabilities, it adds another barrier. Sometimes great sounding ideas work on paper but on the ground level there are flaws - like a school planting trees that won't get watered over a hot summer. That's why I've long advocated for more grass-roots members on our services boards, and we'd be much more efficient and effective. A person coming from experience can help us avid wasting $ by helping us better avoid potential problems that force future change or cancellation from lack of use -

 " People would have a hard time accessing it because of X", or "They won't use it because of Y" - saving us from creating an ineffective or under-effective program.

The healthiest meal is fresh and on your own table

In recent times I've come across other models of community gardening that have a less centralized model and one encouraging more backyard, or smaller, closer to the community areas. Knowledge of growing is also essential, as are the raw ingredient needed to make it all work, and to that end I'd look to work with both the YRFN and the Newmarket Pantry to collaborate to optimize participation, and better fill food insecurity needs. And as we lose more and more of our local farms, it's increasingly important we learn how to grow sustainable, fresh food for ourselves and preserving.

YR Farmer removed from farm, increasingly frustrated

The YRFN has also organized farm crop "gleaning" outings in the past where buses take residents out to glean what was not picked on some farms and I would hope to expand communication and add more such programs so more can participate and eat more healthily.

FUN FACT - Did you know 80% of all food bank donations in Canada come from corporations? You do now! 


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