‘Grow a row’ of backyard veggies to help West Island food banks
It’s called Solidarity Gardens, a community initiative that asks West Islanders to grow a vegetable garden this summer and give back some of their harvest to a local food bank.
It kicked off Wednesday when a community garden at Gouin Park in Pierrefonds-roxboro was tilled and readied for planting in a sweltering heat.
West Island Community Shares (WICS) is supporting the initiative through its Solidarity Fund, and Sophie Mccann, executive director of WICS, is counting on West Islanders to “grow a row” of veggies in their own backyards to support a worthy cause.
“If you’re used to growing a vegetable garden, then grow an extra row and give that row of produce back to the food banks,” Mccann said.
The goal of Solidarity Gardens is to help provide fresh produce for 750 West Island families who use food banks on a monthly basis.
Food insecurity is a problem in parts of the West Island and the
COVID-19 pandemic has only made things more difficult for some families, Mccann said.
Three local food banks — West Island Mission, On Rock Community Services and West Island Assistance Fund — are seeing increases of between 20 and 50 per cent in the number of families requesting food baskets.
Suzanne Scarrow, executive director of the West Island Mission food bank, has seen a spike in demand for food baskets over the last couple of months.
“Up until March, we were serving 200 families a month. We’re now serving well over 265.”
Scarrow said the pandemic has lifted the stigma from some people who may not have come forward for help in the past.
“When Premier Legault asked people to use 211 (community help-line) and not be embarrassed about seeking help, it took the stigmatism off of using the food banks,” she said.
“I would say over 50 per cent of the clients we’ve taken on in the last two months are social assistance recipients. So their income has not changed, but they’re just realizing, ‘ Why struggle when you really don’t need to?’ ”
With unemployment numbers rising in Montreal, Scarrow said she expects more people will turn to food banks in the future. “In the next six months to a year, we’re going to see a jump.”
She said many people are unaware of the pockets of poverty that exist in the West Island. “If you do the statistics, one of the (poorest) postal codes in Canada is in Pierrefonds-roxboro, in À-ma-baie.”
Scarrow welcomes the idea of receiving more fresh fruit and veggies at the food bank. “The typical mentality when people think of food banks is canned goods and non-perishables, but you can just as easily bring me a cucumber as a box of cereal.
“As a food bank our mandate is to feed everyone to the best reflection of the Canada Food Guide. And if you look at that, half your plate should be fruits and vegetables.”
Pierrefonds-roxboro Mayor Jim Beis said Solidarity Gardens is an extension of the À-ma-baie Solidarity Market, which opened last summer under the principle of “pay what you can.”
To help the public get their own gardens started, Solidarity Gardens will be giving out free seedlings on Saturday, May 30, at the YMCA in Pointe-claire (230 Brunswick Blvd.) from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m.
This summer’s harvest will be donated to West Island Mission, On Rock Community Services, West Island Assistance Fund, Corbeille de pain, Marché Solidaire A-ma-baie, and L’équipe Entreprise.
Solidarity Gardens will also pair seniors with youths who will plant a vegetable garden in the senior’s backyard. “While respecting all social distancing guidelines, the youth will tend to the garden during their weekly visit and the pair will spend time together and break seniors’ isolation,” Mccann said.
Anyone wishing to participate in the Solidarity Gardens initiative, please visit www.wimmoi.org