The Food Garden at Lansdowne Centre Returns to Help Food Insecurity in Richmond
Food donated in the past two years amounted to more than 2,000 lbs, and thousands of nutritious meals were prepared.
During the pandemic, food insecurity impacted many Richmond families. In 2021, Lansdowne Centre saw the need in the community and stepped up to help. More than 40 garden boxes were installed in the south-east corner of the Lansdowne Centre parking lot and near the Lansdowne Skytrain station, transforming the spaces into beautiful and practical gardens growing fresh vegetables for Richmond families in need. For the third year in a row, The Food Garden at Lansdowne Centre is donating freshly grown produce to the Richmond Food Bank Society and Urban Bounty, organizations that support families who are experiencing food insecurity and prepare fresh meals for local elementary schools. Food donated in the past two years amounted to more than 2,000 lbs, and thousands of nutrient rich meals were prepared throughout the spring and summer months. “The Richmond Food Bank has seen a 56% increase in the total number of families accessing grocery assistance services compared to the year prior. This increase has a lot to do with the high food prices, high cost of renting, economic uncertainty, and the ongoing refugee crisis. We are serving a lot more seniors, new immigrant families, students, and refugees than what we used to pre-pandemic,” says Hajira Hussain, Executive Director of Richmond Food Bank. “On May 13th, to celebrate Mother’s Day and give children an opportunity to make a positive impact in the community, 250 children have a chance to create their very own bouquet for Mom with a minimum donation of $5. All proceeds will be donated to the Richmond Food Bank,” says Bronwyn Bailey, Marketing Manager at Lansdowne Centre. “Monetary donations allow the Richmond Food Bank to purchase the most needed items. For every $1 donated, $7 worth of groceries can be provided to local families who are experiencing food insecurity.” This year, two special Veggie Days were held at the Centre Court on May 13th and July 15th from 11amto 3pm. Visitors had a chance to win Spin to Win wheel prizes, participate in arts & crafts, activities and workshops, and got their gardening questions answered by experts. A special greenhouse is set up for the duration of the Food Garden for photo opportunities and a chance to win a gift card. Since more and more families are growing their own veggies to cut down grocery costs and to ensure the freshest veggies on the dinner table, The Food Garden’s resident gardener will be on-site to host free drop-in gardening workshops every Monday from May 8th to October 2nd from 3:30pm to 4:30pm. The informative workshops cover different topics each week and offer handson experience; they are suitable for all ages (including children). The Food Garden at Lansdowne Centre will operate until the final harvest in the fall. |
PROJECT DETAILSClient: Lansdowne Centre
Date: May to September , 2023 Services: Event planning, Media Relations Location: Lansdowne Centre |