The L.E.A.F. Initiative is a Commonwell program to support capacity, resiliency and growth in the communities we call home.

Outfitting the Falls Food Hub Kitchen

41 Chambers St. Smiths FallsK7A 2Y3

What is this project about?

We are seeking funds to support the outfitting of a commercial kitchen in the Falls Food Hub. This will include kitchen appliances, shelving, work tables, cookware, fan hood, and walk-in coolers and freezer. The kitchen will become the heart of the Falls Food Hub.

Once completed, The Falls Food Hub will be a dynamic, welcoming space where people can get a healthy meal, socialize, learn, grow and find some support to get ahead in life. The goals of the Food Hub are to help alleviate food insecurity and social isolation, improve food skills and food literacy, and ultimately improve the health and well-being of residents in the Smiths Falls area. We will develop a variety of programs and services to support low-income community members. Programs will compliment, not duplicate those that currently exist. Some programs will be universal, welcoming the whole community an approach that helps to reduce the stigma of participating.

Learning is a key part of the programing planned for the Falls Food Hub (as it currently is at The Table). We will use the Hub to implement educational programs like our Caring for Budget Body and Planet, FoodFit, and Cooking Connections. The focus of these programs varies but all include a strong component of increasing food skills and food literacy so that people are empowered to make healthier food choices and be more independent with their food preparation. The kitchen design facilitates using the space as a teaching area with large central work space and room for 10 students and a chef/instructor. Larger programs can also use the dining area beside the kitchen.

We will also use the kitchen to prepare meals and snacks for other educational events and courses that are planned at the Hub. These will include movie nights, speakers, and discussion groups.

Why is this project important to the community?

Food insecurity is a growing concern in Smiths Falls. Before the pandemic, Stats Can estimated that at least 9.4 % of the population of Leeds-Grenville & Lanark was food insecure and that 27%of the households in Smiths Falls had an income below $40,000 making them at risk of food insecurity. With rising costs of living, food in particular, we know there are even more people now struggling with access to good food. While we support people with access to more nourishing food through our meal programs and advocate for the necessary changes to people's incomes to address food insecurity, we can also create opportunities to support people with improved skills, knowledge and connections to maximize the use of their available resources. People living on low incomes also face many barriers to becoming more involved in the community. The Falls Food hub will work hard to reduce these barriers and prioritize engagement with lower income community members. Beyond the specific learning objectives of our various programs, bringing people together in a positive supportive learning environment helps build connections between participants and creates opportunities for mutual support. Over 80% of program participants tell us they feel part of a community at The Table Community Food Centre and we expect to see the same result in Smiths Falls at the Falls Food Hub. Connections and engagement in community can help alleviate some of the stress, anxiety and isolation many people living on low incomes face on a daily basis