The Gift of Good Food annual fundraiser kicks off this year on Monday, November 14th and runs until midnight on December 31st, 2022. The Gift of Good Food raises funds to support local families facing food insecurity across the Capital Regional District with fresh produce every two weeks continually for a year. Our goal is to raise $100,000.00 and support over 140 families in 2023.

The Good Food Box is Fernwood NRG’s food distribution program. It ­supplies fresh bags of produce to Gift of Good Food recipients. The Gift of Good Food ­partners with over 15 community-based organizations from Sooke to Saanich to directly support people at the neighbourhood level.

Inflation and the housing crisis in our city are squeezing vulnerable families and forcing hard choices about what they can afford to put on the table. We want to ensure we can continue to support these families by providing consistent access to fresh, high quality food.

“[The Gift of Good Food] has helped me to feed my family. I don’t know how I would be able to feed my growing teenager and preteen without it,” shared a 2022 Gift of Good Food recipient.

You can get involved by donating online at thegiftofgoodfood.ca/donate starting November 14th, 2022. Start a Fundraising Team with friends, family, or co-workers and reach a goal that supports families in your neighbourhood. Register your team online at  fernwoodnrg.ca/ggf-fundraising-teams. Donate an auction item to support the cause or volunteer to help put up posters—email events@fernwoodnrg.ca.

Do you own a business and want to choose a local fundraiser to support? Choose the Gift of Good Food as your charity of the month where a portion of your sales will directly support families in your community to access fresh food for a year. If you would like to get involved, email mila@­fernwoodnrg.­ca.

By contributing to this fundraiser, you are not only supporting dignified access to healthy food for families. Your donation also supports our regional food system. An average of 60% of the produce is sourced from within 200 miles of Victoria. Families who receive the Gift of Good Food are also supported with wraparound care at the community service centres they pick-up their bags from—they can also access other services and supports more easily and consistently. You also become a part of the amazing team that makes this fundraiser happen from the fundraising, packing, and delivery volunteers with the Good Food Box to the donors to the network of partner organizations working at the community level to the families who pick up their bags.

Check out @­fernwoodnrg for updates on the Gift of Good Food—please share and spread the word.