GUELPH – A local program focused on tackling food insecurity is receiving a $20,000 boost from the Oak Tree Project.
Community FEWD (Food Equity With Dignity), which repurposes food that might otherwise end up in landfill to support people facing food insecurity, was awarded the $20,000 grand prize at the Oak Tree 9 finale on Oct. 15 at the Guelph Farmers’ Market.
“Guelph and Wellington County are facing a food insecurity crisis,” Oak Tree Project lead Will Mactaggart stated in a news release.
“One in four children in our community are food insecure, meaning their families worry about income and other barriers to sourcing adequate and healthy food. That is why we focused on this critical issue and invited charities to showcase their collaborative approaches to ensure everyone in our community can access nutritious food.”
Established in 2014 by the Mactaggart Hryn Team from Richardson Wealth, the Oak Tree Project uses the idea of friendly competition to engage the community in philanthropy.
The focus of the project changes each year in order to address emerging and urgent community needs, and to help spread awareness of various charities.
Members of the public participate by more or less voting through their financial contributions to the causes that matter to them.
Community FEWD, a program of the Guelph Neighbourhood Support Coalition, will use its grand prize to expand its take-home dinner program. The program offers free hot, take-away style meals at locations around the city on a rotating schedule.
Other finalists in the competition included:
– Nourishing Hope: Hope House Food Markets – The markets are no-cost, choice-based pantries open to individuals and families in Guelph who need a helping hand;
– Groceries from the SEED: This sliding-scale online grocery store offers affordable and free food to combat food insecurity in Guelph and Wellington. Customers pay up to 33 per cent off of full retail price, with the aim of increasing free food availability for those who need it; and
– Keep Kids Fed: This project represents the unification of the Children’s Foundation of Guelph and Wellington with Food4Kids Guelph, with the goal of addressing child hunger through community-driven initiatives such as school breakfast, snack and lunch programs and food packages for kids to take home on weekends and holidays.
Projects were judged by an expert panel that included local food security leaders with a range of academic, programming and community-based experience.
Final scores were also determined by votes from guests at the finale event.
“What struck the expert panel the most was the level of collaboration between these organizations,” judging panelist Ashlee Cooper stated in the release.
“They’re not just working in silos, but actively partnering to create a more robust safety net for those in our community facing food insecurity.”
All organizations that submitted an application received a cash gift in recognition of their work. As a surprise at the finale, an audience member pledged an additional $5,000 for each of the three runners-up.
Since 2014, the Oak Tree Project has donated more than $350,000 to Guelph-Wellington charities.
“We’re proud to support these incredible initiatives,” Mactaggart stated in the release. “And we recognize that long-term solutions require addressing the root causes of food insecurity, including income inequality and systemic barriers to access.”
