MEDIA RELEASE July 17, 2024
$63,800 OTF Grant from the Ontario Government Brings Good Food Box Sales Online
Thunder Bay, ON – On Wednesday, MPP Lise Vaugeois met with the team at Thunder Bay Good Food Box Program to hear from them about the difference that a two-year, $63,800 Resilient Communities Fund grant from the provincial government’s Ontario Trillium Foundation (OTF) has had. The grant, awarded in 2022, was used to research and create a website with e-commerce options, providing an additional option for Thunder Bay Good Food Box customers to access affordable, fresh food at a time when food costs have increased.
“The Northern [sic] Women’s Centre has been a leader in developing food security programs with the Good Food Box, beginning in 2005, and education on food security, going back ten years earlier,” said Lise Vaugeois, MPP for Thunder Bay-Superior North. “This grant has allowed more families in Thunder Bay to access fresh, affordable produce online—something that couldn’t have happened without the support of the Ontario Trillium Foundation. The Good Food Box is an incredible program and I want to thank the Ontario Trillium Foundation for supporting this vital community initiative.”
Over 24 months, these funds were used to help the Good Food Box Program recover from impacts of COVID-19 and build resiliency by developing a strategic plan for more sustainable, flexible revenue generation, cost recovery and procurement, including a website redesign and integration of e-commerce options.
Proudly administered by the Northwestern Ontario Women’s Centre since 2005, the Thunder Bay Good Food Box Program is a community-based, volunteer-powered food security initiative. a monthly fruit and vegetable distribution program that aims to increase access to fresh and affordable produce in neighbourhoods, housing buildings, organizations, and participating First Nations year-round. The program is intended for, and primarily serves, families and individuals with low or fixed incomes including young families, sole support parents, students, seniors, and people with disabilities.
The Ontario Trillium Foundation (OTF) is an agency of the Ontario government with a mission to build healthy and vibrant communities across the province. Last year, OTF invested more than $110M into 1,044 community projects and multi-sector partnerships. Projects aim to enhance economic well-being, foster more active lifestyles, support child and youth development, provide spaces for people to come together and connect, and create a more sustainable environment. Visit otf.ca to learn more.
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Organization Contact for Media Inquiries:
Gwen O’Reilly, Executive Director
Northwestern Ontario Women’s Centre
807-345-7802 | [email protected]
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