Fort Erie Food Security

LEADERSHIP NIAGARA PROJECT TEAM:Corinna CarsonJon Colamartini

Christina D’InnocenzoCarrie GauthierDiane Vanecko

Sponsors:◦ Bridges Community Health Centre◦ The Fort Erie Salvation Army

Project Goal:◦ To ensure the people of Fort Erie have access to

nutritional and affordable foods.

Project Budget:◦ $2500.00

The Project

Develop strategies to build capacity and strengthen current food systems by:

◦Identifying relevant educational opportunities and incentives for participation;

◦ Identifying and developing multi-sector partnerships and networks to increase purchasing and acquisition to healthy food; and

◦Organizing and facilitating a local food forum.

Project Outcomes

Advocacy work to support Bill 78 Taxation Amendment Act◦ Bill 78 is a Taxation Amendment Act that will

provide a tax credit to farmers for donating produce to Ontario food banks

◦ The LN team drafted a letter to Fort Erie Council to support the Amendment and attended Fort Erie Council in support of the Bill

The Deliverables

Explore and establish potential multi-sector partnerships and networks;◦ Connected with various organizations in Fort Erie

such as Sobeys, Wal-Mart, and Rich Products◦ Confirmed reclamation process, APS Inc.◦ Explored opportunity to influence contents of

donation food bags sold at grocers◦ Established relationships with community

businesses

The Deliverables

Create, implement, and analyze a survey to the target audience◦ Goals:

Verify demographics of those experiencing food insecurity in Fort Erie

Identify barriers and solutions to eating healthy Determine relevant educational opportunities and

incentives ◦ 21 question survey ◦ 460 surveys distributed to 16 community

partners◦ Implemented mid January to end of February

2011◦ 180 surveys analyzed

The Deliverables

Develop, promote, and facilitate a local food forum based on survey results;◦ Hosted the Fort Erie Food Network Forum on May

31, 2011 on Hunger Awareness Day◦ Numerous vendors showcased programs/services◦ Food demonstrations and tastings offered◦ Approximately 60 people attended◦ Lunch provided for participants recruiting local

business donation

The Deliverables

Establish a Fort Erie Food Security Network;◦ After the forum, all participants and vendors

were invited to attend the inaugural Network meeting

◦ Goal: To explore interest in sustaining a stakeholder

network, to collaboratively address access and food insecurity in Fort Erie

To share the Fort Erie survey results

The Deliverables

Finalize an “Action Plan”◦ Report on Survey Results◦ Identify community partners, volunteers, and

strategies to promote food security◦ Information regarding the Forum and Network

The Deliverables

Hearing feedback from our sponsors at the Leadership Niagara session

The day of the Fort Erie Food Security Forum

The genuine appreciation from those who attended the Forum, and the sponsors

Our Project Team

The High Points

Balancing a heavy workload with the community project responsibilities

Compounding project scope and deliverables

Sitting in ‘limbo’ at times, awaiting the start of the next phase of the project

The Low Points

Although you may feel like you are not doing enough for the sponsor, all efforts are recognized and appreciated

Revisit project scope and objectives often Advocacy “in the community around you” Recognize and complement each other’s

strengths An appreciation for community organizations

and the dedication of their members The desire to actively contribute more to my

community

What did we learn?

Questions?