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?
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