Participants who also volunteered at the first Bulk Buy Collective in June 2021
Archway Community Services was awarded a $198,000 grant through United Way’s Regional Community Food Hub initiative. Funding will support the Archway Food Justice program which includes the Bulk Buy Collective, which provides fresh food.
The funding will also support development of a commercial kitchen to provide community-led programming as well as advocacy to increase food security in B.C. Now, more area residents can access fresh, nutritious and culturally appropriate food.
“People across British Columbia were already facing hard choices getting enough food prior to the pandemic, now it’s even tougher,” says Kim Winchell, Senior Director, Strategic Initiatives, United Way of BC. “Having a United Way Regional Community Food Hub in Abbotsford means everyone in need in that community will have increased access to food.”
“We’re thankful to United Way for supporting immediate responses to food access, while also recognizing the importance of long-term solutions through United Way Regional Community Food Hubs,” said Megan Capp, Manager of Social Justice, Housing and Seniors at Archway.
Archway Manager of Social Justice, Seniors and Housing, Megan Capp with Food Justice Coordinator, Taelyr Keeley
The Archway Bulk Buy Collective was officially launched on June 12th. The initiative provides pre-made orders of produce filled with up to 12 varieties of fruits and vegetables monthly for a flat rate of $14. In the first order, 39 households used their bulk purchasing power to buy 54 bags with 15lbs of produce each.
“Buying fresh produce can be stressful on a tight budget, especially with produce prices increasing substantially,” explained Taelyr Keeley, Food Justice Coordinator at Archway. “Because produce is priced by weight, it makes it harder to ensure one is staying under their grocery budget.”
Archway Community Services is one of 15 United Way Regional Community Food Hubs across British Columbia working to increase food security and reduce hunger in our communities.
United Way Regional Community Food Hubs help community members access food, food literacy and wellness programming, together with wrap-around services such as mental health support, employment services, childcare and others. These hubs also offer volunteer and engagement opportunities for community members right in their neighbourhoods. Archway will work with a network of community service providers to reduce service overlap, consumption, energy use, and distribution costs through collaborative networks of community care and support. increase food security and reduce hunger in our communities.
Between March 2020 and March 2021, United Way Food Hubs across the Lower Mainland and Fraser Valley served almost 4 million meals and delivered over half a million grocery hampers through 152 local sites last year.
Donations to support food justice and food insecurity can be made at Archway.ca/Donate or Uwlm.ca/foodforbc
“We’re thankful to United Way for supporting immediate responses to food access, while also recognizing the importance of long-term solutions through United Way Regional Community Food Hubs.”
