The federal government announced new funding for a local organization in hopes of strengthening food security.
Patrick Weiler, MP for West Vancouver-Sunshine Coast-Sea to Sky Country, and Marie-Claude Bibeau, the minister of agriculture and agri-food, announced an investment of about $339,000 for Sea to Sky Community Services (SSCS) and Sunshine Coast Community Services Society.
“Local community organizations are on the frontlines of providing nutritious food and services to underserved and vulnerable populations,” said Weiler in the news release. “Sunshine Coast Community Services Society and Sea to Sky Community Services Society are indispensable in uplifting our communities and making them a more equitable and accessible society.”
SSCS is receiving $135,300 as part of the fourth phase of the Local Food Infrastructure Fund. The organization will now be able to purchase a refrigerated van, appliances and food processing equipment for its Pemberton Food Bank kitchen.
“As you can imagine, the need for food supports increased dramatically during the pandemic, but with recent food price hikes, natural disasters, labour and supply chain shortages still affecting the region, we have not seen any decline in need,” said Jaye Russell, executive director of SSCS, in a news release.
"At the Pemberton Food Bank, we see this playing out daily, just be meeting those who come through our doors,” she continued. “It is families with young children and seniors who are hurting right now. We are very grateful for this support of our work improving the everyday lives of families in the corridor.”
The Sunshine Coast Community Services Society is receiving over $250,000 for kitchen and processing equipment, dining tables and chairs, gardens and gardening tools, and irrigation and cistern equipment.
