CICS sustainable food model is moving forward in its development and over the last year has revealed multiple forward-thinking ways to break the cycle of poverty, all of which is scalable and valuable to similar organizations. The most poignant successes we have seen has been through our program development where community members are able to build their individual and community capacity instilling a sense of ownership and belonging.
CICS's community food program uses the power of food to facilitate social connection and strengthen community. As a year-round field-to-table program, it includes gardening, outdoor and environmental stewardship activities in the Spring/Summer and healthy eating, nutrition education, community meals and cultural activities in the Fall/Winter, providing an intercultural space to bring people together and make connections through food. CICS has been growing our community garden since 2011 and operating our commercial-grade community kitchen since 2013.
The Sustainable and Accessible for Empowering Communities (S.A.F.E.) Project
S.A.F.E. Communities Project encompasses our Food Bank, Community Garden & Greenhouse, and Community Kitchen programs. The project focuses on empowering the communities by creating a welcoming and inclusive environment and supporting a community food system.
- Food Security
- Social Equity
- Breaking social isolation
- Fighting against systemic racism
- Doubling amount of food produced
- Breakdown issues of inequity
- Providing high quality seeds to those that do access to land and providing a space for those who don’t
- Bring different racialized communities together to share their culture, experiences, foods and recipes
- Provide an accessible space for those facing barriers
- Eat, Love, Laugh and Grow together
Community Food Program Services
& CONTACT
HANDOUT