Fresh perspectives – food hub tours with local MLAs
Ensuring British Columbians can get the nourishing, healthy, and culturally preferable food they need is vital to the overall health and well-being of our citizens and communities. One of the ways United Way BC helps improve food security for British Columbians is through our Regional Community Food Hub Initiative.
Food hubs serve local communities throughout BC and meet the unique social, cultural, and logistical needs in an area. Last week, we shared the vital work of two Vancouver food hubs through a series of tours for local Members of the Legislative Assembly (MLAs).
South Vancouver
On October 15, we joined Vancouver-Langara MLA Sunita Dhir, Vancouver-Strathcona MLA Amshen – Joan Phillip, and Burnaby North MLA Janet Routledge on a site visit to South Vancouver Neighbourhood House, a United Way BC Regional Community Food Hub where they had the opportunity to see a food hub in action tackling food insecurity.
In South Vancouver, food insecurity affects a diverse group of residents, including seniors, single-parent families, children, people living with disabilities, and racialized residents; newcomers and refugees are affected as well. South Vancouver is a “food desert”: there is a lack of retail spaces to shop for food, especially affordable food.
At the neighbourhood house, the MLAs learned about a local food distribution program before assisting with food hamper packaging. Afterwards, United Way BC and South Vancouver Neighbourhood House staff talked about food insecurity in South Vancouver as well as the needs of the MLAs’ constituencies.
“The hour-long conversation after the tour was so rich,” said Jeanne Legua, United Way BC’s Government Relations Specialist. “MLAs were both challenged and inspired to share the impact of the food hub model and network to make sure as many families and communities’ food needs are being met.”
East Vancouver
On October 17, we joined Minister Sheila Malcolmson from the Ministry of Social Development and Poverty Reduction and MLA for Nanaimo-Gabriola Island, Minister Christine Boyle from the Ministry of Housing and Municipal Affairs and MLA for Vancouver-Little Mountain, and MLAs Sunita Dhir and Amshen – Joan Phillip for a visit to the food distribution site operated by Little Mountain Neighbourhood House, a United Way BC Regional Community Food Hub in East Vancouver, where a weekly market distribution program for those in need was taking place.
In East Vancouver, food insecurity has an impact on a diverse group of residents, including low-income families and individuals, seniors, newcomers and immigrants, and people experiencing housing insecurity or living in transitional situations. Reasons for food insecurity include socio-economic inequality and the high cost of living.
Once the program wrapped up, United Way BC staff and MLAs sat down with the host organization to talk about food insecurity and their own community needs.
“This was an hour well spent, for all attendees,” said Alžběta Sabová, United Way BC’s Director of Food Security, Community Impact & Investment. “Gathering in the circle and connecting on food security was incredibly impactful, especially for the MLAs and both Ministers who learnt more about the important programs this Food Hub offers, but who also got an opportunity to share more on some ideas and visions for future support. We are grateful to be able to facilitate these dialogues and are grateful to build meaningful relationships in service to this community and more food security future.”
Connecting for community
Along with United Way BC donor support, the Province of British Columbia has been a critical partner in United Way BC’s work in the food security sector. The presence and deep engagement of all the MLAs is vital in combating food insecurity.
When United Way BC supporters—whether individual donors, corporate partners, or government partners—get a better, in-person understanding of the programs they support, and how community benefits, everyone wins. Working together, we are UNITED for food security.