The Good Food Box Partnership

This Good Foodbox program was designed to provide fresh local produce boxes and grocery gift cards to households negatively impacted by COVID-19.

Many of our local residents are in the precarious situation of paying a large percentage of their earnings on housing and bills. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, many of these individuals or families are finding there is even less money left over to purchase basic food necessities. And most have never accessed local food programs or do not know how to reach out for support on their own.

Community Foundation of the North Okanagan’s (CFNO), Vice-Chair, Annette Sharkey, and Executive Director, Leanne Hammond recognized the need to give people an extra boost while they are being financially impacted by the pandemic. Sharkey and Hammond quickly responded by organizing a partnership with 7 essential service organizations and 6 schools - and positioned CFNO as the funding provider.

The program was designed to provide fresh local produce boxes and grocery gift cards to households impacted by COVID-19. The participating organizations and schools are in a unique situation to identify individuals and families that are struggling and provide them with emergency food support and connect them to local food programs. In turn, the produce boxes also support local growers.

This program will be available until April 2021.  If you would like to support a family with a grocery card, please contact Leanne Hammond at leanne@cfno.org or 250-542-8655.

Good Food Box Partners:

Service organizations:
NOYFSS (North Okanagan Youth & Family Services Society)
Independent Living Vernon Society
Canadian Mental Health Association - Vernon
North Okanagan Friendship Centre
NexusBC Community Resource Centre
Community Futures North Okanagan
Okanagan Boys and Girls Clubs - Vernon

Schools:
Harwood
Mission Hill
Alexis Park
Okanagan Landing
Armstrong Elementary
Len Wood Middle School