Trout Lake/Cedar Cottage Food Security Network
Purpose:
To enhance the health and well-being of vulnerable populations in Trout Lake/Cedar Cottage neighborhoods by supporting and coordinating local food security initiatives and improving access to community health, social services and community-based programs.
October 15th Update:
Needs Assessment in progress
Identify assets within community
From this – gaps can be identified & will give direction to programming
To be completed end of October
Are you involved with or know of any community food initiatives within the Trout Lake/Cedar Cottage area? Let us know – tlccfoodsecurity(at)gmail.com
Organic growing initiatives:
Charles' Dickens school gardens
2 gardens onsite – a children's garden & a native garden
Need support from within the school to help with the sustainability of the gardens, as the school is K – 3, they are finding it needs to be resurrected every three years.
VCAN
Possible partnership for community garden
Possible location – Copley @ Vanness (1 block west of Nanaimo @ 23rd)
Cedar Cottage Neighbourhood House
garden beds need help – location & materials (built with treated wood)
EYA has some ideas
EYA
possible partnership for workshops
ideas for CCNH garden beds
Food Sharing Initiatives
Community Kitchen
Take a Break program
Civic labour dispute now resolved – will connect with Trout Lake Community Centre
Received donation of kitchen supplies for Community Kitchen
Knowledge Sharing
Workshops
community input via community consultation (November?)
EYA possible partnership
Community Kitchen possible partnership
Partnership building
Renfrew/Collingwood Food Security Institute
VCAN
Possible partnership with Community Garden
EYA
Possible partnership
Workshops
CCNH garden boxes
Oxfam World Food Day
Attend October 16th event @ SFU
Vancouver Food Policy Council
In touch with Council members
Updates passed onto Council
VCH School Nutrition
Will be meeting with Melanie Kurrein, RD
Your Local Farmers Market Society
Interested in participating with the Network
Community table @ Trout Lake market in Spring – outreach
Emergency Food Security @ VGH
Paula, Helen & Kristina attended
Cedar Cottage Neighbourhood House
Article in fall newspaper
Will contribute to next newspaper (~January)
Donna Chang, ED attending Network meetings
Trout Lake Community Centre
Strike is over!
Charles Dickens School
Possible partnership for School Garden project
MOBY
Try connecting again
Posted by Trout Lake/Cedar Cottage Food Security Network at 4:52 PM 0 comments
Friday, October 5, 2007
Improving Food Security in Trout Lake/Cedar Cottage
Everyone enjoys a good hearty and nutritious meal when they are hungry. We all take comfort in our favourite foods, and many times the kitchen is the busiest spot in the house where families come together. But unfortunately for too many low-income families in Vancouver, being able to afford healthy food choices on a daily basis is often beyond reach.
The “Take a Break” program has been serving food bank participants at Trout Lake Community Centre for over 8 years. After they have shopped at the food bank, participants are invited to “Take-a-Break”, have a healthy snack and learn more about how to cook on a budget using food items commonly distributed at food bank depots. Health professionals are on hand to demonstrate healthy low-cost food preparation and recipes, answer health and nutrition related questions, and can also help food bank participants to access community kitchens, dental programs, neighbourhood houses, ESL services, mental health, addictions services, and other community resources.
Take-a-Break is a great place to socialize, have a snack, and learn more about healthy cooking ideas – but there is so much more we can do together to address hunger in our community! With funding support from the Community Food Action Initiative, a new Trout Lake/Cedar Cottage Food Security Network is being developed and we are looking for interested residents and/or community agencies who would like to support or get involved.
The Trout Lake/Cedar Cottage Food Security Network (TLCC FSN) is a new project, which brings together local residents and service providers to create action around food security needs in the northeast Vancouver area. Our goal is to increase community awareness of food security and available resources by coordinating educational workshops on food security issues (i.e. cooking on a limited budget, creative lunchbox ideas, etc). We are also working on developing a local community kitchen where residents will be invited to learn more about low cost healthy meals, take part in cooking together, and share community meals.
Steps towards the creation of a sustainable food system may also include food growing initiatives such as developing a community garden, food sharing projects, etc. This new food security initiative is modelled after the highly successful “Renfrew-Collingwood Food Security Institute” which operates out of Collingwood Neighbourhood House. We very much appreciate their support as we develop a similar community based initiative in Trout Lake/Cedar Cottage!
The TLCC FSN is a partnership project supported by Trout Lake Community Centre, Cedar Cottage Neighbourhood House, Evergreen Community Health Centre, the Take a Break Program, Vancouver Community Agriculture Program, Vancouver Community Kitchens Project, and the Greater Vancouver Food Bank Society.
If you would like more info on the Trout Lake/Cedar Cottage Food Security Network or are interested in participating contact us - tlccfoodsecurity(at)gmail.com
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