Mayor Bob Chiarelli launched the Ottawa Good Food Box Club on Wednesday, February 14th at Ottawa City Hall.
The Good Food Box program, a nonprofit community-based initiative, is bringing neighbours together to buy delicious and nutritious fresh fruits and vegetables at significant savings. There's no membership fee - everyone can join. It is very similar to successful programs in other Canadian cities.
“Canada's Food Guide to Healthy Eating recommends five to ten serving of fruits and vegetables a day, but most Canadians are eating far less,” says Deborah Shnay, Regional Coordinator of the Ottawa Good Food Box Club. "We're a non-profit community-based food-buying cooperative that's come about as a way of making fresh fruits and vegetables more accessible to people,” said Shnay.
Here is how it works: members order and pay for the food box each month at their neighbourhood club. Volunteers at each site take orders and accept payment early every month. Later in the month, when the produce is delivered to each community, volunteers make up the required boxes, and members take home quality fresh fruits and vegetables for 30 to 50 per cent less than regular supermarket prices.
Members are encouraged to volunteer a little time each month to help with club activities By volunteering, they help keep prices low. And because they are helping one another, a true community spirit ensues.
Interested individuals, families, seniors and students are encouraged to join.
Sponsored by: Carlington Community and Health Services, Centretown Community Health Centre, Club Ami-Jeunesse, Cumberland Community Resource Centre, Gloucester Centre for Community Resources, Gloucester Non-Profit Housing Association, Lowertown Resource Centre, Nepean Community Resource Centre, Odawa Native Friendship Centre, Overbrook-Forbes Community Resource Centre, Pinecrest-Queensway Health and Community Services, Sandy Hill Community Health Centre, South-East Ottawa Community Health Centre, Tungasuvvingat Inuit, Vanier Community Service Centre.