This week marks Canadian Malnutrition Awareness Week and at CHV, we are very aware of the significant impact malnutrition can have on a person.
For youth experiencing homelessness, access to basic necessities, like shelter and food, is rare. If they can scrape enough money together to buy something, it’s rarely a nutritious meal and, sometimes, they will stretch out eating it over days, just to make it last.
Malnutrition can have lasting impacts on a person, affecting their physical health and development. It is often caused by a lack of access to healthy food options and a steady diet.
It Takes a Community
When young people transition from CHV to the community, it can be a challenge to manage the costs of rent, transportation, and other essentials, which can leave little left for healthy food. Because we want every young person we serve to thrive, CHV is always looking for ways to support their health and independence, which includes providing nutritious food.
Desiree, Manager of Life Skills and Community Housing at CHV, is a key person in supporting youth, as they transition into the community.
When Desiree discovered Food Stash, a local charitable organization that reduces food waste by rescuing and redistributing food, it felt like a perfect match to support the youth we serve. Desiree helped youth apply for Food Stash’s Rescued Food Market program and then she enabled CHV to become a Community Partner.
Today, once a week, fresh, rescued food is brought to Rights of Passage, our transitional housing program. Here, young people can choose from a wide variety of fresh foods to support their lifestyles and dietary preferences. The deliveries also provide groceries that CHV staff caringly package up and deliver to those youth living in the community.
Food Stash provides an incredible variety of food, some of which are unfamiliar to the youth we serve. Since many had struggled with food security in the past, they do not always feel confident using or preparing these items. To bridge this gap, Desiree started offering cooking classes to increase their skills and deepen their knowledge of healthy food.
We are incredibly grateful to Food Stash for this amazing, ongoing partnership that is having a positive impact on the youth we serve!
Food Stash has many ways you can get involved in their organization. Visit their website to find out more.