Getting Food to Kids – the need for healthy food and rural accessibility in Muskoka

What is this project about?

It is estimated that over 1000 kids in the Muskoka District live with some level of food insecurity, through no fault of their own. After just one year of operations, Food4Kids-Muskoka has been able to provide healthy food to over 200 kids each weekend as well as over the summer months, when school is not in session. With a massive geographic area of nearly 4000 square kilometers, with mostly rural and small-town populations, our biggest challenge has been delivering food bags to kids and families, as well as to our 18 participating schools and distribution points across this massive area. We are in need of a reliable system of delivering large boxes of food to schools, as well as to family homes and community distribution points. The food containers do not fit into conventional vehicles, so access and efficiency have been a challenge. Further, we have a need for some professional expertise in dietary counselling and healthy food options, so we hope to create a Getting Food To Kids program that allows us access to a registered dietician/educator and a panel van that can be used for food deliveries.

Why is this project important to the community?

This project is vital to our community because it removes a significant barrier: transportation. Our ability to reach kids and families across the region depends on the reliability and capacity of a van to carry food bins and community educators and volunteers to schools and homes across the region. The rural and small-town nature of the Muskoka region means that many do not have access to any form of transportation and that becomes a key factor in the food insecurity they experience. The sheer size of the region and the need to pack dozens of food bags for up to 400 kids requires the use of a vehicle the size of a cube van. We also see that volunteers and our dietician would be able to provide community-based education and counselling on healthy food options, as well as options for community resources on food security.

Target Completion Date
December 31, 2026
Location
20 Northland Lane, Unit #1
Huntsville, Ontario
P1H 1M4

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