The Feed it Forward program has kicked off on a good note.
The annual campaign raises money for Farm to Fork market vouchers for people who use the food banks to use at the Mountjoy Farmers’ Market.
To kick off its second season, organizers welcomed a $5,000 donation from Goldcorp.
“It’s going to allow a number of families accessing the Timmins and South Porcupine food banks to come to the markets on a regular basis throughout the entire summer and have that choice of what foods they want to buy, from where, how many of their dollars they want to spend at that market. It’s really a beautiful thing that we’re so excited about,” said Jennifer Vachon, Anti-Hunger Coalition Timmins executive director and chair of the Farm to Fork committee.
There are two ways for the public to support the program.
You can buy a $15 Feeding it Forward bundle, which gives you $12 to use at the market, with the remaining $3 being donated to the food banks.
“That’s really great because then we have this influx of market dollars at the market from people of every type of demographic, background. Wherever they’re coming from there’s no stigma associated with accessing the market with using Farm to Fork dollars,” she said.
Cash donations can also be made and will be transferred to market dollars. You can donate or buy a bundle at the Urban Market or the downtown Timmins BIA office.
Goldcorp getting involved was quite simple, according to sustainability manager Bryan Neeley.
After Vachon reached out, he said the company wanted to jump in.
“Hopefully with our infusion of an investment here we can find others in the community that’ll to step forward and either match or at least step into the program itself,” he said.
Farm to Fork committee member Rena Keenan Buhler believes there are many benefits to the program.
She noted the markets are critical to the farmers, and the market dollars open it up to all consumers.
“It’s a social opportunity to access great local food that is the healthiest and good for our economy, so it’s win all around,” said Keenan Buhler.
For more information on the Farm to Fork vouchers or for more information on the campaign, contact Vachon at 705-288-9701 or [email protected].
