Supporting Food Security in Cumberland

In October, we were happy to welcome representatives from Mosaic Forest Management to show them our Food Share operations in action. To help our Society get nutritious food to those in need, Mosaic dropped off donations totaling over $5,000. The funds came from access fees collected through recent recreational events held on the Mosaic land base in the Comox Valley.

Mosaic has been making annual donations to CCSS for several years, showing steadfast support for our local community. These contributions help to sustain programs like the Food Share, which provides bi-weekly deliveries of nourishing food to folks in our village facing financial barriers to purchasing food. There are currently 76 households benefiting from food box deliveries, serving 203 individuals. The program serves a broad demographic, including 79 children & youth, 101 adults and 23 seniors.

The impact of the Food Share goes well beyond numbers. One family recently shared this message after being able to transition off the program:

“With great appreciation and gratitude, we have enjoyed our fresh food, but it is finally time to say goodbye. We have finally come up with the resources and more work, so we will no longer be needing the help. Please donate to the next family in need.”

This message is a powerful reminder of how this initiative provides critical support during difficult times, and can help folks regain independence & stability.

The following client testimonial also illustrates the profound personal and community-level impacts of the program:

“I want to tell you how important your program is to my family. Without your help we would have not had the opportunity to eat the nutritious food you have provided us over the last couple years. Being seniors with health issues, our opportunities to make extra monies at this point in our lives is impossible. We recently lost our home as we could no longer afford to stay there. Inflation, increases on municipal expenses, and food. I don’t know how we would have made it without you. I do know our life would look very different without your help. I don’t know how to thank you enough for all you do.”

We are grateful to Mosaic, our dedicated team of volunteers, and community supporters for helping to make this work possible. Together, we’re building a stronger, more food-secure Cumberland.

To learn more, donate or volunteer, send us a message.

📸Pictured from left: Earl Johnson from Mosaic and Sally Podmore, Sue Loveless & Julie Lad from CCSS.