Duane Hicks
Those who regularly order the “Healthy Living Food Box” each month should know that starting Feb. 4, they must turn in their order forms and cardboard totes on the first Wednesday of the month.
As well, orders only will be accepted at the Sunset Country Métis Hall, said health educator Becky Holden of the Northwestern Health Unit, noting this is a change from the way things recently have been done, where people simply could drop by the health unit office and pay instead.
People can drop by the Sunset Country Métis Hall from 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m. on the first Wednesday of the month. The cost will continue to be $20, and people are reminded to bring in their reusable cardboard tote which they got their fruit and veggies in the month before.
“It will be a little bit of a change for people who are used to being able to drop it off whenever,” said Holden.
The food boxes will continue to be readied for pick-up on the third Wednesday of each month.
Holden noted the program, which is partnership between the health unit, Sunset Country Métis, Gizhewaadiziwin Health Access Centre, and Valley Diabetes Education Centre, has been running for just over two years now and continues to be very successful.
While the number of users peaked at 857 last spring, Holden said that number has since levelled off at 500-650 people per month.
“We’re at a perfectly manageable number,” she remarked. “We’re doing really well.”
She added about 30 volunteers show up every month to help pack the hundreds of boxes.
But while this is going well, she added they can never really have too many volunteers, and welcomed anyone, including high school students wanting to work off volunteer hours needed to graduate, to lend a hand on the third Wednesday of every month.
For those who might not be familiar with the program, the Healthy Living Food Box is meant to provide local families with fresh food to encourage them to eat healthy. The boxes contain enough fruits, vegetables, and often rolls or bread to feed a family of four—a value of at least $40 in each tote for a cost of only $20.
Holden said the program continues to be made possible thanks to suppliers.
“We have a really great relationship with Ernest Thompson [Distributors]. They’ve been our supplier,” she said. “And we’re so fortunate to get local potatoes from Gerbers every month, which is nice.
“Otherwise, local stuff is a little difficult this time of year, but when the springtime comes, hopefully we’ll get more local.
“We maintain a pretty close partnership with Clover Valley Farmers’ Market to keep that communication with our local growers,” Holden noted.
She added the program, in the past, also has got a helping hand from Community Living Fort Frances and District in moving totes from the health unit office to the Sunset Country Métis Hall.
Anyone with questions is invited to call Holden at 274-9827 or Anne-Marie Armstrong at 274-1386.
