Submitted
Thanks to a generous gift from 100 Women Who Care Fernie, 30 Fernie households will be getting a break on their grocery bills this month. Gift cards have been distributed via the Fernie Women’s Resource Centre enabling low-income families and individuals to purchase fresh, local food from the Local Store. Local is a social enterprise local food store run by Wildsight Elk Valley, located in the heart of downtown Fernie.
The initiative follows the model of Local’s successful Second Harvest program in 2022, during which $18,000 worth of local food was distributed to 150 vulnerable families and individuals in the Elk Valley. This project was funded by a grant from Second Harvest, Canada’s largest food rescue charitable organization.
Feedback from the 2022 Second Harvest program was glowing, with participants expressing gratitude for “good food, that you feel good feeding to your family”. One participant noted “It made me feel special, and not poor for a few weeks. Thank you so much.”
100 Women Who Care hosts two events annually, in the Spring and Fall. Members register for the Giving Event, each donating $100, and nominate a local cause that is important to them. Pitches are heard at the event, and members vote for their two favourites, which each receive half of the total donations.
Local is a social enterprise of Wildsight Elk Valley Branch which provides a storefront and online store for farmers and local food producers to sell their products, and enables customers to access fresh and delicious local food year-round. Since opening in late 2020 Local has supported over 80 small local farms and food producers, and now serves over 700 customers per month on average.