The Creston Valley Gleaners Society has made steps toward strengthening food security and sustainability with a generous show of support to two local initiatives.
A $10,000 donation will support the Creston Valley Food Action Coalition’s (CVFAC) long-running Harvest Share program, while an additional $40,000 will help Fields Forward Society launch its Feeding Futures initiative, aimed at providing healthy meals to vulnerable students in the Creston Valley.
The CVFAC Harvest Share provides support to property owners who are unable to harvest or utilize all of their produce. The program co-ordinates volunteers to harvest surplus vegetables, fruit, and nuts that would otherwise go to waste. Every year, Harvest Share redistributes thousands of pounds of fresh fruit to schools, the Gleaners Food Bank, and local service agencies.
“We are so pleased to be recipients of this donation from the Gleaners Society,” said Amanda Goodman Lee, Chair of the CVFAC Board of Directors. “Gleaners shares our vision of supporting food sustainability within the Creston Valley, and has been key in distributing produce donated through Harvest Share. Their support will be essential in the continuation of this wonderful program, and we are grateful to have such a dedicated and active group serving our community.”
The $40,000 donation to Fields Forward will help launch the Feeding Futures program, managed through the Kootenay Farms Food Hub. Starting in 2025, the program will provide healthy meals and snacks to students identified as vulnerable. Fields Forward is working alongside other partners to build the infrastructure needed to make the program a reality, focusing on utilizing locally-grown produce in meal planning and preparation.
“This donation means so much to us,” said Tanya Wall, executive director of both CVFAC and Fields Forward. “It is pivotal in our vision of building a successful program to provide healthy food to our community. The province and other granting bodies are excited to see that we are working together, and we are eager to build the Feeding Futures program into the future.”
Fields Forward’s partnership with CVFAC and Gleaners is strengthening the region’s food systems. With similar mandates focused on local food security and supporting farmers, the three organizations have come together to enhance their impact on the Creston Valley.
“It is exciting for us to be working closely with CVFAC,” said Jeff Lee, chair of the Fields Forward Board of Directors. “Our organizations have similar mandates, and we both care deeply about local food issues and sustainability. It has been positive for us all to bring our organizations closer together and to leverage our strengths..”
