NORTH OKANAGAN-SHUSWAP, JUNE 13, 2022 – We are pleased to announce that Land to Table will be continuing on as a steward for United Way British Columbia’s (UWBC) Regional Community Food Hub in the North Okanagan.
Over the past year, in collaboration with UWBC, Land to Table has been fulfilling this role by working collaboratively with our partners at the Okanagan Indian Band, The Good Food Box and the White Valley Resource Centre to address challenges and opportunities within the local emergency food sector, to increase organizational capacity and impact. Together, we have delivered over 3,200 hampers and meals, filled with local eggs, meat, fish, fruits, and vegetables, to seniors, young families and those impacted by the wildfires of 2021. In all program delivery, there is a focus to include local food from small to medium scale farmers growing in the North Okanagan.
Building on the success of our first year, this year’s programming will strive to achieve more equitable access to sustainable, healthy, local, and culturally connected food for those living in the North Okanagan. As part of this initiative, we also aim to grow in our role as an advocate for local food security and to spark collaborations between small to medium scale farmers and emergency food providers in the region.
UWBC Regional Community Food Hubs are an innovative approach to food security. They allow community members access to food, food literacy and wellness programming, together with wrap-around services such as mental health support, employment services, childcare and others. These hubs and those they partner with also offer volunteer and engagement opportunities for residents in their communities.
More information on this initiative can be found at the Land to Table Regional Community Food Hub Project page.“
Working together with First Nations communities and local organizations over the past year, the North Okanagan Regional Community Food Hub is successfully improving food security across the North Okanagan. We want to build on this great work, which is why United Way British Columbia is pleased to announce our continued investment and partnership with the Land to Table Network for 2022/23, so we can help ensure all people have access to the food they need.” -Alžběta Sabová, Food Security Initiative Manager, United Way British Columbia.
“In our second year as a regional food hub steward, Land to Table is excited to deepen our partnerships with the Okanagan Indian Band, The Good Food Box and the White Valley Resource Centre. We are so grateful for another year of funding from UWBC and the support of their dedicated team. We look forward to building on the momentum gained in year one, by working together on community driven solutions for the urgent matter of food in-security in the North Okanagan”. – Liz Blakeway, Network Director, Land to Table
About United Way British Columbia
Working with communities in BC’s Interior, Lower Mainland and Central & Northern Vancouver Island, United Way supports healthy, caring and inclusive communities by strengthening vital connections that support people in need. Representing the six regions of Central and Northern Vancouver Island, East Kootenay, Lower Mainland, Southern Interior, Thompson Nicola Cariboo, and Trail and District, our organization serves a population of more than 4 million people, with a focus on kids and youth, seniors, poverty, mental health and food security.
Website: www.uwbc.ca
United Way BC Parent Channels
Twitter: @unitedway_bc
Facebook: @unitedwaybritishcolumbia / United Way British Columbia
Instagram: @unitedway_bc
LinkedIn: @unitedwaybritishcolumbia / United Way British Columbia
United Way BC – Southern Interior
Twitter: @uwbcsi
Facebook: @uwbcsi / United Way BC – Southern Interior Region
Instagram: @uwbcsi
LinkedIn: @uwbcsi / United Way BC – Southern Interior Region
About Land to Table
The North Okanagan Land to Table Network is a growing network of people and organizations from across the North Okanagan who support the L2T vision – to build a thriving, healthy, just and resilient regional food system. In collaboration with our network partners, we build the network and carry out projects that strengthen and support the local food system.
Website: landtotablenetwork.com
Facebook: @landtotablenetwork
Instagram: @landtotable
For questions, please contact:
Contact for UWBC:
Kendahl Cardinal
Project Coordinator, Food Security
United Way British Columbia – Working with communities in BC’s Interior, Lower Mainland and Central & Northern Vancouver Island
604-268-1347
Contact for Land to Table:
Liz Blakeway
Land to Table, Network Director
778 886-3718
liz@landtotablenetwork.com
[…] as a Food Hub Steward with ongoing funding from UWBC Regional Community Food Hub Initiative. See announcement here. This funding is creating capacity for us to bring on additional staff, in order to support the […]