The Good Food Box operated on the West Shore for more than five years, but when Capital Families was forced to close its doors, the non-profit program was lefts with no where to go.
Previously, clients were able to drop off money at the Capital Families office in Colwood and a week later they could pick up the box of vegetables. That ended when Capital Families shut its doors in April.
But dozens of West Shore individuals and families are eager to have the Good Food Box program to continue. Capital Region Good Food Society is now searching for another organization or facility to volunteer a West Shore location.
“The amount of work is minimal,” said Sushil Saini, executive director Capital Region Good Food Society. “It takes about three to seven hours a month.”
An organization willing to help would be required to take orders and deposit the money collected into a bank account. Once a month the previously assembled boxes would be dropped off at the West Shore location ready for pick up.
About 30 families were utilizing the program when Capital Families was operating.
Now with no West Shore location, clients can either call in an order and pay by credit card or they have to travel to Fernwood Community Centre to pay. All of the boxes must be picked up in Fernwood.
“A lot of people can’t get downtown or don’t have vehicles,” said Saini, adding that many families also do not have credit cards.
The Good Food Box program operates from James Bay to Port Renfrew and services more than 350 homes. The program is open to anyone regardless of income.
“We believe food is a human right and people should never have to prove their need for food,” Saini said. “The fact is we don’t give the food way, people pay for it.”
When shopping for vegetables and fruit, Saini first turns to local farms and then will branch out to farms on the Mainland, purveyors and specialty stores.
By pooling the money of all the families together, Saini is able to purchase the food in bulk and in turn passes the savings onto customers.
The food provided in the boxes is either certified organic, transitioning to organic, non-certified organic or unsprayed produce.
The program operates with distributing boxes once a month, but beginning in
2012 it will be offered twice a month.
For more information or to signup for the program please email Saini at goodfoodbox@shaw.ca. If you like more information on hosting the program on the West Shore contact Saini at 250-893-7635.
reporter@goldstreamgazette.com