In case you were looking for another way to give back to your community this holiday season!
Throughout December, grocery stores across Cowichan Valley have partnered together for the charity, “Nourish Cowichan” for a winter campaign—designed to raise funds for local low-income families.
The campaign’s goal is to raise $50,000 to support up to 500 local families struggling with food insecurity during the holidays, and provide them with grocery gift cards, so they can shop without worry.
“We’ve seen an alarming increase this year in the number of children accessing our school food programs, and it’s deeply worrying to think that without our help, those children and their families might end up going without [food] over the holidays” said Executive Director of Nourish Cowichan, Fatima Da Silva.
Da Silva added that the gift cards will show the families how much their community cares and allow them to shop for their own food preferences, free from stigma.
According to a release, grocery costs have risen 11% since late February this year, and with no national school food program, low-income families rely on the support of charities like Nourish who provide a life-line in the face of hunger.
In Duncan alone, they’re said to have one of the highest poverty rates in BC in 2020, with over 19% of children living in poverty.
Nourish supports over 1,700 local children and approximately 400 families every week, but with schools closing for the holidays, children and families are at a higher risk of going without food.
In 2022, almost 17% of British Columbians were living in food-insecure households, according to Statistics Canada, with almost 22% of BC’s children living in food-insecure homes.
“We hope the whole community comes together to help nourish the community this winter.”
To support Nourish Cowican’s winter campaign, “Nourish Your Community”, you can visit any participating store (Save On Foods Duncan, Thrifty Foods Duncan, and Country Grocer stores in Duncan, Cobble Hill, Chemainus and Lake Cowichan) and donate $5, $10, or $20 at the till.
If you wish to donate online instead, you can do so here.
