Imagining Different Approaches to Food Charity
2022 was the perfect time for Food First NL to start province-wide conversations about imagining different approaches to food charity. We had entered our third year of operating the Community Food Helpline and were part of a huge network of people with food programming experience and knowledge. We repeatedly heard that now was the time to share, learn, and create change together. Rethinking Food Charity — a process to guide that sharing, learning, and creating — launched in the spring and held its capstone event in the fall. We made huge progress holding these conversations in 2022 and are so excited to keep them going in 2023 and beyond.
Rethinking Food Charity
We launched Rethinking Food Charity to spark conversations about the future of food charity in Newfoundland and Labrador. We hosted community-based conversations with food service providers and folks experiencing food insecurity to learn from their experiences and on-the-ground knowledge. We chatted about what’s working, what needs to change, and how we can advocate for long-term solutions together.
2022 was the ideal time to begin these conversations and the engagement level was phenomenal. Over the course of Rethinking Food Charity, we spoke with more than 800 participants. We successfully connected with people in a bunch of different ways, including over zoom, in-person, focus groups, a big gathering, and phone, paper, and online surveys. In 2023, we will use this input to make key recommendations and start planning for the project’s phase two.
Project Lead, Alison Bennett-James, speaking at the Rethinking Food Charity Gathering.
2022 Project Highlights
Completing two kick-off surveys: one with food program providers and one with folks with lived experience
Holding five regional conversations with food program providers in Labrador, Western, Northern Peninsula, Metro, and Eastern
Working with organizations across the province to host 16 small focus groups with folks with lived experience
Hosting a capstone event (the Gathering) to share project updates and learn about new approaches together
“A moment when I realized the work was important and really capable of making change, was during the regional conversation with Central NL service providers. The session sparked so much interest and everyone was eagerly participating. Near the end, the group wanted to take initiative and make their own smaller central advocacy group to convene outside Rethinking Food Charity and discuss ways to improve food insecurity in that part of the province.”
Participants at the Rethinking Food Charity Gathering, during the “World Cafe” discussions.
The Shoulders We Stand On
All Newfoundlanders and Labradorians. More people are feeling the effects of poverty and are looking for support because of the increasing costs of living. Change is needed now.
This project provided a space for those living with food insecurity to use their voice and advocate for changes that impact them. This project would not be possible without their voices.
This project also gave food programs a space to band together and make changes. We are inspired by their willingness to create space for positive change.
Learn More
CBC’s Crosstalk Episode on Rethinking Food Charity with speakers from the Gathering
Rethinking Food Charity survey reports (service providers and service users)
Community Food Helpline
2022 was the Community Food Helpline’s third year of providing direct food aid. One of its major focuses was adjusting services to further reduce access barriers and making sure they responded to participants’ needs. The Helpline experienced a steep increase in the number of requests because of the ongoing cost-of-living crisis. For the first time, it temporarily paused to catch up on the growing wait list and couldn’t respond to emergency situations. Helpline staff saw an urgent need for change and made huge contributions to conversations about long-term poverty responses and rethinking how food aid services are provided. Its progress in bringing food banks together and improving service access (e.g. offering delivery) will be part of its lasting impact.
In mid-January, 2023, we announced that the Community Food Helpline will close in March. For more information visit our recent blog post.
5,500 requests to the Helpline.
That’s over half of all Helpline requests logged since it began in 2020.
3,753 deliveries to Helpline participants.
Special thanks to all current and past Helpline employees: Emily Alexander, Pam Anstey, Sierra MacNeil, Alison Bennett-James, Madison Gregory, Laurel Huget, Katie Oldford, Neria Alward, and Rosie Myers.
We also want to thank the partners who work with us every day: Local Wellness Collective and Hungry Heart Café
We genuinely could not do this without all of your dedication and contributions.