Food security
Feeding residents of Fredericton for over 30 years
Aug 21, 2020
In 1982, New Brunswick’s Fredericton Community Kitchens began serving community members experiencing food insecurity. Today, it serves over 140,000 meals annually. This spring, a TELUS Friendly Future Foundation grant enabled it to continue serving three meals a day during COVID-19. The funding also supported new initiatives, including the Pantry Delivery Program, which partners with 16 local schools to deliver groceries to over 150 families a week. This collaborative effort ensures that children who rely on meals provided by their schools still receive the nutritious food they need
"...we never wavered in our mission to continue to help feed Fredericton’s hungry, no matter the circumstances."
“When we found out that schools would be closing, we immediately got to work coming up with a new program to help the hundreds of students and families that regularly depend on our Student Hunger Lunch and Backpack Programs, “ says Fredericton Community Kitchens Executive Director, Cassandra Blackmore. “Monday the schools closed and by Friday we had arranged for our first pick-up day with our new Pantry Delivery Program. Since March, we have been facilitating the delivery of groceries to over 150 families in our community. We’ve depended on countless volunteers, a team of dedicated staff and the cooperation of our school districts and 16 school partners. Thanks to our incredibly dedicated staff, volunteers and partners like the TELUS Friendly Future Foundation, we never wavered in our mission to continue to help feed Fredericton’s hungry, no matter the circumstances.”
Continuing to give back in their community
Through this Friendly Future Foundation grant, Fredericton Community Kitchens was also able to add additional layers of safety for the community during the COVID-19 crisis, including delivering over 20,000 boxed meals per month to the community during the pandemic while constantly filling gaps the food bank can’t support. Through partnerships with schools, its reach has grown as the demand has increased.
"I am so proud to be part of such a generous school community,” says Gisele Belyea, a volunteer driver for the Pantry Delivery Program. “The Fredericton Community Kitchens' programs make such a difference for so many families. Through the support of organizations like the TELUS Friendly Future Foundation and our community volunteering it hasn’t just been about caring for my student’s families, it’s been about coming together during a time when we really need to help each other.”
Fredericton Community Kitchens’ strong presence, Fredericton residents in need can continue to receive daily meals. The TELUS Friendly Future Foundation is proud to support such efforts to help create healthier communities.