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The Grandview Woodland Food Connection / Britannia Community Centre COVID emergency food delivery continues 7 days week with the amazing support of 68 food activists who have now logged1100 hrs of communitysupport. We owe a huge debt of gratitude to all these helpers who have donated their free time and effort into this community based food effort. We are still looking for more drivers if you know anyone who may have some time to share. Deliveries are throughout East Van and generally take 2 - 3 hrs. Talya is one of our star helpers who has logged 24 hrs doing bike deliveries around Commercial Drive, down to Broadway and around the Strathcona area. Talya is super energetic and always super keen to help out. In fact, she has dropped by on a couple of occasions unannounced just to check in if we need any quick deliveries made. But there are so many others like Talya who show up with commitment and care.
Now into our 12th week, the need for food support continues. We have now delivered almost 1800 food boxes. While a number of people have let us know that they are doing okay now and are no longer in need of food support, we still receive new referrals daily for families and individuals who are struggling through these times. Our concern is that with CERB possibly ending and an end to school lunches for the summer, that we may see a spike in food need in July. Either way, we are prepared to continue this food program into the fall though hopefullynot indefinitely as we maintain strong concern that this kind of food support is not the solution to systemic poverty. Emergency food delivery is not our mandate and we would prefer to get back to the capacity building community food security programming we were doing pre-covid. Ultimately, households need adequate incomes and financial supports to purchase the food of their choice. It is that simple - food insecurity is a condition of income insecurity, not to mention other systems of oppression, highlighted through the on-going struggles of BIPOC communities. Nevertheless, we will still work together with our community members and partner organizations to ensure that community members are well supported during this COVID time. Funds are still needed to ensure that we can continue to purchase healthy food. For this reason, we are very grateful for all the community donations and while we have surpassed our initial expectations, the money raised through this fundraiser has been critical to providing us the necessary food budge to ensure that our food boxes are filled with lots of good food and not just donated food. We are also appreciative of the Nut Hut, East End Food Co-op and Choices Food Market who have been assisting us with both donations and at-cost ordering of staples that keep our costs low. We are typically purchasing eggs, milk, olive oil, nuts, seeds and grains, canned fish, pasta sauce and bouillon, dairy free milk, nut butters, diapers, and more. Moreover, the feedback that we have been receiving from individuals receiving this food has been very positive and appreciative. For all the reasons above, we thank you again for all your support and care!
Grandview Woodland Food Connection 