Community funding boost makes more free, healthy food available

NANAIMO - More people have better access to healthy and nutritious food, thanks to provincial funding that is supporting food infrastructure projects throughout British Columbia.

More than $4 million is supporting 65 organizations in British Columbia to strengthen food security infrastructure that helps redistribute food to people who need additional support because of high costs.

"We all want people to have access to nutritious food, so we're taking action in a time of rising grocery prices," said Sheila Malcolmson, Minister of Social Development and Poverty Reduction. "This is why, on top of hundreds of other projects, we're funding critical infrastructure that helps people access fresh food in Nanaimo and throughout B.C."

The funding is part of the provincially funded $14-million Critical Food Infrastructure Fund, administered by United Way British Columbia over three years from 2023-26. In 2024, another $3.2 million of this fund was distributed to 43 community organizations.

Grants from the fund are helping community organizations, including Indigenous organizations and First Nations, build, buy and improve warehouse storage space and equipment, buy refrigerated vehicles to transport food, and buy equipment to preserve and process food for extended shelf life. By increasing the capacity for storing, transporting and redistributing food locally, the grants help increase year-round availability of nourishing and culturally appropriate foods.

Food insecurity has increased because of inflation, supply-chain issues, and climate emergencies that interrupt food production and distribution. This investment addresses the challenges faced by communities, strengthening food security for everyone.

Learn More:

To read more about the Province's funding to the Critical Food Infrastructure Fund, visit: https://news.gov.bc.ca/releases/2023SDPR0057-001516

For more information about United Way British Columbia food security initiatives, visit: https://uwbc.ca/program/food-security

B.C.'s poverty-reduction strategy: https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/governments/about-the-bc-government/poverty-reduction-strategy

For recipients of the Critical Food Infrastructure Fund, visit: http://news.gov.bc.ca/files/UnitedWayGrants.pdf

A backgrounder follows.

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