KAWARTHA LAKES-A population-based survey from the Haliburton, Kawartha, Pine Ridge District Health Unit estimated that household food insecurity in the City of Kawartha Lakes and Haliburton in 2019 was 14.4%. The provincial food insecurity average sits at 13.3%. The level of food insecurity in this region is one of the highest in the province according to the City.
To help combat the issue the City of Kawartha Lakes and Haliburton County Roundtable for Ending Poverty along with Hiawatha First Nation have announced a new community-based food project.
Officials say the City of Kawartha Lakes and Haliburton County has thousands of edible fruit trees whose fruit is currently going to waste and they want to change this. Additionally, there are vegetable gardeners who find that they have extra food at the end of the season which is not being utilized.
Do you live in the City of Kawartha Lakes and/or Haliburton County and have fruit trees on your property?
Are you a gardener that has extra produce at harvest time?
Would you like to volunteer to pick fruit or produce to use and share with local food banks?
The new community program offers an opportunity to register your produce or to register as a volunteer. Simply go to the City of Kawartha Lakes and Haliburton County Roundtable for Ending Poverty webpage and visit our Community Harvest Program page. Your information will only be available to local food banks and partners who would contact you to arrange to come and harvest your donations or to volunteer to collect the harvest.
Produce will be split three ways: a third is provided to the landowner, a third goes to the volunteers, and a third will be delivered to a local food bank or food program. This food program will share produce with seniors, adults and children in the community that are in need of healthy food.
“We are so thrilled to finally be able to bring this project together with the help and support of our numerous partners. It has invaluable potential to bring access to free produce across our communities,” said Marina Hodson, Co-Chair of the City of Kawartha Lakes and Haliburton County Roundtable for Ending Poverty.
click here for more information:https://cklhpoverty.ca/community-harvest-program
