Adam Prudhomme
Beaver Staff
Napanee District Secondary School is one of five sites selected by the United Way KFLA for a pilot program aimed at increasing access to affordable food.
Starting on Aug. 29, the high school will host a monthly Good Food Stand which will offer a variety of fresh produce at reduced cost.
“When we started talking about food access, one of our goals was to make sure we increased access to healthy, nutritious food,” said Bhavana Varma, president and CEO of United Way KFLA. “(The program is for) people of all incomes, especially those who are struggling.”
No appointment will be necessary and everyone is welcome to shop there.
The program was launched following round table meetings that included people who had experienced living in poverty as well as members of the KFLA community’s Poverty Reduction Initiative.
Tony Deodato and Sons Ltd will supply the fresh produce at a reduced cost along with funding from the KFLA Food Access Advisory Committee, the City of Kingston, United Way KFLA and the Community Foundation for Kingston and Area.
“It’s very exciting because it’s everyone working together and that’s how this all came together really quickly,” added Varma.
The Good Food Stand will start out as a place for people to get healthy food at a reduced cost, but Varma is hoping it will grow to be even more over the 12 month pilot project.
“In some cases it might end up being a cooking program that comes with it,” she said. “We’re also hoping neighbourhoods will come together with this. We know it’s a challenge sometimes to meet people in your own neighbourhood, so we’re hoping there will be some sort of synergy that comes with getting to know each other. It’s also an opportunity for the youth to volunteer.”
By leaving the door open to everyone, Varma says there will be no stigma attached to shopping there. Any food left over at the end of the market will be sold to local soup kitchens at a reduced price so as to eliminate any waste.
The program will run at NDSS from 3 to 5:30 p.m. on Aug. 29, Sept. 12. Oct. 3. Nov. 14, Dec. 12, Jan. 16, Feb. 13, March 6, April 10, May 15 and June 12.
Varma says they hope to help fill in the gaps between monthly food boxes and help bridge the time between paycheques for families who may struggle to afford healthy groceries.
Along with NDSS, Good Food Stands will also be held at Regiopolis-Notre Dame Catholic High School, Sydenham High School, La Salle Secondary School and Bayridge Secondary School. The complete schedule can be found at https://www.unitedwaykfla.ca/good-food-stand/.