Starting in September, HSCA will be implementing some important changes to the Sustainable Food Program. The free food portion of the program will be ending, and the focus will shift to be on low-cost produce. After extensive research, HSCA has chosen to strategically invest our resources into community connections, and low-cost food partnerships.
This decision has not been made lightly. We have spent a great deal of time looking at all options, and HSCA believes we can best serve the community through strengthening our relationship with Fresh Routes and using our resources to build connections and relationships through community programs. We recognize that this change will be significant, and we are committed to working with you as we take this step toward providing a deeper impact within our areas of strength as an organization.
HSCA has an extensive online resource tool that showcases the organizations that have direct mandates for offering free food, that are better resourced to serve this need, and that can provide greater impact in this area. These organizations are listed on HSCA’s website: www.hsca.ca/resources-1 and in the printed handouts provided at the Sustainable Food Program.
Monday, August 26 will be the last day that free food will be offered as part of the program. There will be no changes to HSCA’s partnership with Fresh Routes. Fresh Routes will be available every Monday (except statutory holidays) from 4:00 to 6:00 pm to offer produce. HSCA will continue to provide a discount of 25% for anyone living in Hillhurst or Sunnyside who is interested in that support.
The next steps will include using our capacity to seek stable funding for the low-cost grocery discount and building connections and relationships for participants through community programs.
We, the team at HSCA, feel confident that this change in direction will increase our impact by focusing our programs and services to align with our strengths and our mission. We are grateful that you are part of this community and hope to continue serving you. We feel our impact will be even greater as we look towards this shift to align with our strengths.
For more details, please visit the Community Food Programs page on HSCA’s website at hsca.ca/community-food-program.
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