With inflation at an almost 40-year high, the Sun Youth food bank said demand for its services has increased but donations have not kept up.
Here comes a team of young gardeners.
In the Sun Youth day camp program, campers tend an urban garden in Montreal’s Parc-Extension neighborhood.
All fruits and vegetables that help in their production are donated to the food bank.
The idea is to teach kids about sustainability and the importance of giving back, especially at a time when so many families are in need.
“We have a lot of new clients coming to the food bank,” said Eric Kingsley, Sun Youth’s director of emergency services.
Almost 20 percent of clients have jobs but still can’t afford to eat—almost twice as many as last year.
“Older people, people on welfare, have seen their purchasing power melt away. They’re at the grocery store and they can’t make it to the bottom of the list,” Kingsley said.
The first thing on this list is often meat and fresh produce.
For campers like Luna, the app is also a great way to connect with nature.
“What is my favorite thing about gardening?” he thought. “You have to plant and see the bugs!”
Sun Youth manages two community gardens in total. Last year, it produced more than 2000 kg of fruits and vegetables.
Organizers hope this summer will be more productive.
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