Squamish Savings has stepped up to revive a charitable initiative bringing nutritious produce to low-income families after the province announced it was pulling its funding this year.
Thanks to a $10,000 donation handed over Wednesday (June 30), the Squamish Farmer's Market coupon program will be reinstated this year.
Another $5,500 in grants the credit union gave to Sea to Sky Community Services earlier in the year will also be used to allow the program to continue this summer.
"Supporting low income families, healthy eating and a more sustainable system of agriculture is an excellent opportunity for the community," said Squamish Savings manager Tracey Kliesch, who approached the board for the donation after reading about program organizers' funding challenges earlier this month.
"It really resonated with me because of my work with Sea to Sky. I had known about the program the year before, and it was really disappointing for me to hear that the program was getting cancelled."
The program offers a weekly coupon package to low income families, pregnant mothers and single mothers who partake in a skill-building course on healthy eating provided by Sea to Sky Community Services.
The coupons can be redeemed at the Squamish Farmer's Market and can be spent on B.C. grown fruits, vegetables, dairy, eggs, meat, fish, nuts, and fresh cut herbs.
The present funding allows for 50 families to participate, some from last year's list and some added from the Healthy Pregnancy Outreach Program, during this year's market season.
"As the program gets established, we look forward to supporting its continued growth and extending the program to more families," said Farmer's Market board member Patrick Demers, who helps co-ordinate the coupon program.
After reading the article in The Chief about the loss of government funding for the initiative, Kliesch contacted Demers and Sea to Sky Community Services co-ordinator Suzie Soman for more details.
"This program in particular touches so many people - not just low income families but also the farmers, the Farmer's Market, and it's also about reducing the carbon footprint that we put on the Earth as we import fruits and vegetables," said Kliesch.
"To me it wasn't only win - win, it was win-win-win-win."
She said the timing was perfect and she brought the information to Squamish Savings board members, who all agreed the program was too important to the community to lose.
"It's so in line with the initiatives that the credit union wants to do in the community," said Kliesch.
"It was kind ofemotional torealizethat an institution would step-up andchampion such an important program and put it back on track."
Donations for the program can be made though Sea to Sky Community Services.
