Grant feeds Nourish Project

$749,900 in Trillium Foundation funding allows healthy food programs to expand into the county

A city project supporting healthy eating and inclusion has expanded its reach thanks to funding from a provincial agencies.

The Nourish Project received a grant of $749,900 in charity casino proceeds from the Ontario Trillium Foundation.

The project helps low-income and marginalized families to access healthy food, learn food skills and become more engaged in their community.

Nourish Project is a collaborative effort of the local YWCA, Peterborough Public Health, Green UP and COIN.

Food programs are often run out of Myrtle’s Kitchen in Peterborough Public Health.

Since receiving the funding, the Nourish Project was able to spread its programs to Havelock, Lakefield and Curve Lake First Nation.

Community gardens and meals are now available in those areas as well as in Peterborough.

Jen Cureton, the director of philanthropy and communication for the local YWCA, said Trillium’s funding is paramount in keeping the project running.

“Without the funding, we would have zero funding towards this project and it would all stop,” Cureton said.

The project supports more than 3,700 low-income and marginalized residents.

It offers access to community gardens and healthy food as well as food literacy and advocacy.

When people don’t have access to healthy food, they make other choices that have detriments to their health. And when people don’t have a sense of community, they feel lonely, Cureton said.

The Nourish Project addresses both those needs.

“Nourish is an interesting project because it doesn’t only deal with issues of food security but it also deals with issues of social inclusion and relationship building within our community,” she said.

Nourish Project partners are celebrating the funding on June 4 at Peterborough Public Health, where there will be free, familyfriendly workshops, activities and refreshments from 1 to 4 p.m.