Lift Community Services and Powell River Farmers’ Market are working together to make sure qathet region families in need are receiving food items to enrich their nutritional requirements.
The farmers’ market nutrition coupon program is a 16-week program, which started in early June, according to Carolina Peña Navarro, Lift Community Services family programs manager at Family Place and BOND (Babies Open New Doors, which is Lift’s Canada Prenatal Nutrition Program).
“Each week, participating households receive $27 worth of coupons to spend at the farmers’ market,” said Peña Navarro. “The coupons can be used to buy vegetables, fruits, eggs, dairy, honey, meat and plants. The coupons can be redeemed at the local open air farmers’ market only.”
Peña Navarro said the program provides economic support, and if families save up coupons, they can purchase large items.
“It helps people with their weekly costs of food and budgeting,” said Peña Navarro. “It also helps people learn about nutrition, in that they can try things they might otherwise not try, because it is not available to them, or it’s cost-prohibitive.
“The other piece, too, is it helps local farmers. The coupons are basically like money. Farmers will turn them in for cash at the end of the day, so it helps them and the local economy.”
Lift Community Services family resource programs have been participating as a community partner since 2013. Peña Navarro said the budget provides for 25 BOND and 30 Family Place families to participate.
“We have had more demand than allocated spaces so four of our Family Place families are sharing the 16 weeks,” said Peña Navarro. “Each gets eight weeks for their household.”
This means a total of 57 families are participatory in the program.
“This year, because we had such a surplus in demand, we had to be very strict about the criteria to be eligible for this program,” said Peña Navarro. “To be eligible to participate, families have to be considered low income and or be pregnant individuals or newly parenting. With the rise in food costs, our focus was on families who have a hard time putting fresh fruit and vegetables on the table routinely.”
Provincial funding
Funding for the program comes through the provincial ministry of health and BC Association of Farmers’ Markets, which administers the funds and distributes the coupons.
“This is an excellent program that Lift is blessed to be participating in every year,” said Peña Navarro. “It makes a huge difference. Our families are coming back to us and are letting us know what an impact it’s having. We love this program because we see how beneficial it is to their food security and social connections.”
The program is successful locally because of the passion and dedication of its partners, Powell River Family Place and BOND, said Peter Leblanc, program manager with BC Association of Farmers’ Markets.
“They do the great work in connecting people in the community to the Powell River Farmers’ Market,” said Leblanc.
The local market appreciates the hard work and dedication its community partners continue to provide each year, connecting people with nutrition coupons, said manager Juhli Jobi.
“This opportunity allows more community members to directly support local agriculture, while simultaneously getting bedding plants, fresh produce, eggs, frozen meat and honey into the households that need it most,” said Jobi. "The direct benefit to farmers is evident on a weekly basis, as they receive, and then cash in the coupons. With the support of the BC Association of Farmers’ Markets and our local community partners, the program runs seamlessly, and we look forward to its continued success.”
Lift outreach worker Sarah Hooff said by going to the weekend markets, not only are families able to top up their fresh food intake regularly, but they also love the opportunity to get out and connect with other families and let their children play.
“We are now a month into this year’s coupon program and families are as happy as ever,” added Hooff. “Some of our families like to go weekly, while others like to go and do a big shop every couple of weeks, and love preserving and putting food away for winter. Many of our program participants are expecting or have infants, so having nutritious foods stored for when babies are ready to try solids is a benefit.”
Rising costs
Hooff said in addition, the rising costs of food has been felt by qathet families. Recently, coupon value has gone up $6, and in total the coupon program adds just over $100 per month toward people’s food budgets.
“From connection to budgeting, this program is greatly appreciated for so many reasons,” added Hooff.
As food and housing prices go up and pandemic support, funding or donations fade, more and more families look to the local food security supports in town, said Bethany Browne, Lift family support worker.
“The coupon program is a much-needed supplement to our stretched local resources,” added Browne. “This full-circle support generates a sense of value and participation for all involved. It is a unique program in that way.”
Peña Navarro said the program is multifaceted.
“It brings together economic support, food security, social connection, as well as a positive nutritional experience for the families who participate,” added Peña Navarro. “This program also strengthens participants’ food literacy via cooking programs and skill sharing opportunities the Family Place and BOND program host for families.”
