How Do We Build For What Comes Next?

Four months ago,  summer was fast approaching, and our ANIDA Food Bank Community Garden was just beginning to take shape. If you recall our first community update on the garden, together in collaboration with Karis Services, we started with conversations of what the garden would entail, planning to building the foundations: preparing the land, building the garden’s perimeter, bringing in new soil, and creating a space where something could grow.

Today, we’re seeing that investment come to life. The garden has already produced pounds of fresh herbs and vegetables, with more than 15 types of produce grown and harvested, including tomatoes, zucchini, lettuce, and more. What started as a small community project is becoming another way for our Food Bank to support the more than 2,000 families and clients we serve each month. But the impact is about more than the produce.

We’re proud to continually look for creative and innovative ways to strengthen food access in our community. Food Banks are often thought of as places where donated food comes in and is distributed to families who need it. But what if we could also create new ways to grow, contribute, and participate? That’s part of what inspired our Community Garden.

By growing herbs and vegetables locally, we’re adding fresh produce to our Food Bank while creating opportunities for students, volunteers, and community members to get involved. The garden allows us to move from simply distributing food to creating another part of the food-access process right within our community.

It may be a small step, but it opens the door to new possibilities and that’s what investing in what comes next can look like. Over the past few months, we’ve been grateful to work alongside the Karis Service Team who have helped care for and maintain the garden throughout this summer. Their involvement is a reminder that community impact truly grows through collaboration.

The garden reminds us that investment isn’t always about seeing an immediate result. Sometimes, it’s about believing in what something can become. As well, meaningful change happens when we invest in people, resources, opportunities, and communities. The Community Garden is one example of what that investment can look like and it doesn’t end here.

This season, we’re continuing to invest in our community through our Back-to-School Drive, helping children return to school with the supplies mand kid-friendly snacks they need. We’re grateful to our donors and partners, including RIOCAN, for helping make this possible.

As we move into the fall season, we’ll also be preparing for our Thanksgiving Food Drive, creating another opportunity to strengthen food access and support families in the Black Creek Community.

Thank you for your ongoing support. Your support doesn’t simply help us meet a need today. It helps us build opportunities that can continue to serve our community tomorrow.