Senior’s centre gets $50K grant to help with food costs

An Edmonton senior’s centre has received a grant to help address the rising cost of food for those living on a fixed income.

St. Andrew’s Centre, located at 12720 111 Ave., is the recipient of a Peavey Industries LP 2019 Community Agriculture Grant worth $50,000.

The grant will go toward the development of a hydroponics and aquaponics food growth system at the centre to help with food costs for seniors.

The annual community agricultural grant is designed to address the needs of communities anywhere within a 300-kilometre radius of any Peavey Mart, TSC Store or Mainstreet Hardware between from British Columbia to Ontario. Applicants could qualify for a grant of up to $100,000.

“We are so fortunate to be selected for this grant. It allows our senior community the opportunity to have year-round food security. It allows for our continued partnerships with Sustainable Food Edmonton, our local food bank, and our community as a whole,” said Rebecca Balanko, community development specialist at St. Andrew’s Centre in a news release.

LENDING KITCHEN

“It also allows us to launch our St. Andrew’s Centre Lending Kitchen. Our hope is to utilize a familiar, compelling concept to pique local interest in and action against local food insecurity in our own senior community.”

St. Andrew ’s Centre’s mission is to provide safe housing for seniors with access to support services and social opportunities.

“We have a significant population that will have their lives enriched in meaningful ways by creating opportunity to access year-round gardening as a valued interest, access to fresh herbs and vegetables for meals, as well as a wellness feature that will create essential socialization as we refurbish our sunroom to provide the crucial elements to support and sustain this program for future years,” said Wanda Beaudoin, St. Andrew’s Centre’s chief operating officer.