Serving up community spirit in the Fraser Valley

Growing foods and eating together are physical activities, but they are also social ones that bring together families, friends, neighbours, and connect us with new communities. Thanks to dedicated Community Builders, Community Champions and volunteers, in 2024 United Way BC Hi Neighbour and our Local Love Funds supported community gardens, cultural food celebrations, and learning opportunities in the Fraser Valley for both community building and space sharing. This creates healthy, caring, inclusive communities. 

Cedar Valley – growing good 

‘Growing Good’ Community Garden Box Project began this Spring when the Cedar Valley Hi Neighbour team led by Community Champion Jash, Community Builder Elizabeth, and volunteers delivered garden boxes to 25 participants in the Mission neighbhourhood. The project empowers older South Asian residents by helping them to grow veggies in their front lawn gardens. The garden boxes, along with essential supplies such as dirt, compost, and seeds, meant participants got to garden as a fulfilling hobby close to home, which is particularly important for those with mobility issues.  

Two of the garden boxes went to a community member who works with families in Mission who are new to Canada. The families planted their raised garden beds together and tended and shared their yields throughout the summer, giving them a sense of belonging and ownership as they literally and figuratively plant roots in their new community.  

“It was a significant occasion when the newly arrived children in Mission participated in planting and then shared their experiences with the activity. This would not have been possible without the contribution of United Way BC,” says Manpreet Brar from United Way BC community partner, Mission Community Services. 

The Hi Neighbour team also launched the ‘Growing Good’ Facebook page (https://bit.ly/464X8sf) as a place for residents to connect online, share updates, and support one another in their gardening journey. 

Reclaiming Youth Pow Wow 

Food for the soul was served in July when the Hi Neighbour Cedar Valley Team was honoured to support United Way BC Indigenous Priorities team member, Veronika at the 3^rd Annual VYPER Reclaiming Youth Pow Wow held at the former St. Mary’s Residential School Grounds. VYPER or Visionary Youth Peers for Equity & Revitalization is a group for urbanized and non-urbanized Indigenous youth in BC fostering the revitalization and adaptation of Indigenous culture for all first peoples across Turtle Island (North America). United Way BC offered activities for the children attending the pow wow, which included dancers from all over BC and the northwestern US. Learn more here: https://youtu.be/ejtOYueMOpg  

Babich-Mill Lake – Celebrating unity through diversity 

From the bold, aromatic spices of Indian cuisine to the comforting and hearty dishes of Ukraine, food offered something for everyone at the United Way BC sponsored Taste Around the World event, held at Abbotsford’s Jubilee Park. Despite the wet weather, attendees gathered for a culinary journey that spanned the globe. Emceed by Community Builder Jasmine, the event was a collaboration with Archway Community Services, Tourism Abbotsford, and the City of Abbotsford. Along with great food the event showcased the importance of fostering connections through shared experiences.  

A new Community Cupboard

The second Babich-Mill Lake free pantry, the Seedlings Church Community Cupboard, also opened in July thanks to the efforts of a local volunteer builder. This pantry offers innovative solutions to food insecurity by creating a space for the community to participate in food sharing. There are United Way BC-supported Community Cupboards throughout the Lower Mainland and Fraser Valley including four Nick’s Nooks in Delta, two in Abbotsford and one in Cedar Valley in Mission. United Way BC works to support food security in a variety of ways. Learn more about our Food Security Initiatives. 

Sqwá – food as equalizer 

Food is included in every program offered for youth and families at Sqwá First Nation. Everyone – community members, helpers, and staff – is welcome to eat together making food an equalizer. Hi Neighbour Community Builder Margaret was honoured to join youth and families at several Sqwá programs that promote community building in a safe space. This includes Young Matriarchs, for girls, which focuses on games and cultural crafts, and Gathering Our Gifts, for families with children and youth. Any leftovers are packed up and sent home with youth or families who could use some extra food. Youth help prepare food and clean up after. Local Love funds have supported some dinners with United Way BC’s involvement with Sqwá programming striving to enhance community building work already being done by the First Nation.  

Semá:th – sharing healthy habits 

During the Summer, United Way BC supported Semá:th First Nation youth paddling in canoe races. Throughout the canoe training and race season, which runs between April and August, Hi Neighbour Community Builder Lenny, along with the canoe skippers, shared healthy eating habits with youth – no junk food or sugar. This encouraged healthy lifestyles and provided good energy for racing. During race weekends, the youth and families usually camp together, which offered an opportunity for everyone to share meals. This is cultural tradition is known as ‘longhouse style’ with some folks cooking and others cleaning. United Way BC Local Love funds allowed for extra food to ensure there was enough for sharing. 

Sumas Prairie – showing and shining with community spirit 

Over 70 people – kids, families, and seniors – attended the Sumas Prairie Show & Shine in September at Sumas Prairie’s Huntingdon Community Park. The event brought the community together to enjoy each other’s company and build new friendships. Thanks to support from a United Way BC Hi Neighbour Local Love grant games, a magician, and an inflatable playhouse provided excitement, fun and laughter for the kids. They also participated in a bike race.

Sardis – Turkish art and delights 

Over 65 participants attended a Turkish wood stamping event in August in Chilliwack’s Sardis neighbourhood. Organized by Hi Neighbour Sardis Community Champions Syeda and their family and volunteers, this hands-on workshop not only allowed participants to create unique, custom-designed tote bags using traditional Turkish wood stamping techniques, but also provided them with a deeper appreciation of Turkish cultural heritage. Along with the stamping activity, attendees got to enjoy traditional Turkish coffee and a delight. More than just an art workshop, the event was a community-building experience vital for fostering a sense of community in the fast-growing Sardis neighborhood. 

Yarrow – Food Hub reflections 

 In the months following the 2021 Fraser Valley floods, Hi Neighbour Yarrow Community Champion Victoria transformed her barn into a space where impacted residents could pick up needed items such as food, cleaning supplies, household items, and clothing. Known as the Yarrow Food Hub, there was always a cup of coffee, a warm meal, and food available to take home. Along with food for those in need, space provided mental health support with counseling available on site. This Spring, Victoria held a reunion with neighbours who used the Yarrow Food Hub. At the barbeque, Yarrow residents reflected on the recovery process. One of the families who attended was preparing to finish painting the remaining walls in their homes, while another household was replanting their garden and landscaping. United Way BC’s Local Love Fund helped pay for barbeque supplies and items to help those restoring their homes. Learn more about how United Way BC helps British Columbia communities during emergencies.

Cooking up connection and joy 

In 2024, Fraser Valley Hi Neighbour communities nourished people’s bodies and spirits while building awareness of the resources and services available for those in need like our Regional Community Food Hubs (which increases neighbourhood food access), School’s Out programming (which provides children a safe, healthy space to go during after school hours and during the Summer), and Better at Home services (which supports seniors to live independently in their homes). It is all part of United Way BC’s work to build a strong web of care and connection to support our friends and neighbours. At United Way BC, we are United for Communities. To learn more about Hi Neighbour in the Fraser Valley, Lower Mainland and beyond, visit: Hi Neighbour | United Way British Columbia (uwbc.ca).