This is the second in a series of blog posts featuring each of our Vancouver Neighbourhood Food Network coordinators.
Joanne MacKinnon has represented Little Mountain Neighbourhood House as their Neighbourhood Food Network and—most recently—as the Community Engagement Coordinator for five years.
The food security priorities for the Network are the Riley Park Community Garden, a food asset map and educating the community about food insecurity. The Network addresses food security and community involvement, and brings community members closer through participation, education and events.
The Community Garden is an inclusive gathering point reflecting the Network’s core visions to improve food security, ecological sustainability and community development. It is a collective public space where people can engage in co-creation, feel a sense of belonging and ownership, and increase networks.
Long-term sustainability depends on the development of social capital and the intention to grow produce that may be given back to the community. The garden is a David Suzuki Foundation Butterflyway project site, and has drip irrigation to educate about water conservation. The shed is a demonstration of a vertical garden and renewable energy.
Before COVID-19, Little Mountain Neighbourhood House provided community meals and food for our clients and members, with almost 7,800 meals and snacks provided each month. These included a hot breakfast for preschool children, a hot lunch for a family drop-in program, snacks for after-school and daycare programs, community kitchens for newcomers, Arabic family and single moms drop-in programs.
When the Neighbourhood House closed in March due to COVID-19, the organization secured funding from Community Food Centres Canada to support vulnerable families and community members with access to food. More than 470 individuals were served by this program—including more than 170 kids under 18, and more than 175 families.
Food hampers were delivered by East West Market, serving 31 families and 26 seniors. The Network’s outreach and engagement to community included:
> Starting Garden Guides through a partnership with the SPEC, to provide resources and support on how-to grow your own food in small spaces—like containers and on patios—and in backyard and other community gardens;
> a BackYards program where residents have requested to have their yards used for food production, for those who need food support; and,
> Harvest Matchmaking—which includes providing veggie bags with produce from the Network’s gardens, urban farmers and farmers market vendors.
> The monthly Donation Station at the Riley Park Farmers Market has re-started, and the Network is grateful for the support of the community with funds, and farmers with produce.
“The video provided by Garden Guides have truly helped me start my own garden. They are a great tool for any gardening but it was especially helpful to me as a beginner. There are so many knowledgeable people in the community willing to share their skills. Thanks to Riley Park Garden Guides team the information is directly accessible wherever you are.”
Esme Stumborg, Urban Ethnographic Field School 2020 Cohort
Phase 2 emergency food access is underway. Little Mountain Neighbourhood House is now a Food Bank Hub and with funding from the United Way as a Local Love Food Hub, and Community Food Centres Canada with grocery gift cards, the Food Network is able to serve 1,925 vulnerable people in the community.
I have received food products delivered to me. I am very moved by your compassion towards the elderly such as myself. I would like to express my sincere thanks to you. Wishing you a wonderful and safe summer.
Thank you card from a neighbour
Learn more, celebrate community food action, and get involved with Little Mountain Riley Park Neighbourhood Food Network:
- Follow Little Mountain Neighbourhood House on: Facebook | Instagram
- Visit the Riley Park Community Garden website: www.rileyparkgarden.org
- Follow Riley Park Community Garden on: Facebook | Twitter | Instagram
Visit the Little Mountain Neighbourhood House website: https://web2.lmnhs.bc.ca/community-programs
