The Provincial Government will distribute $247,000 to seven community-based organizations under the Provincial Wellness Plan. The funding supports projects designed to address food security issues. These grants are in addition to the Provincial Wellness Grants, which will be awarded in the coming weeks.

"Food security means all people have access to sufficient, safe and nutritious food," said the Honourable Jerome Kennedy, Minister of Health and Community Services. "The funding our government is providing today to these organizations will help them ensure residents throughout the province have access to the healthy food they need."

Community groups submitted proposals to receive funding to develop projects. Examples of projects include an action plan for sustainable community solutions surrounding food security, a public awareness campaign in Labrador and on the Burin Peninsula, teaching children to grow their own food and stocking community kitchens in several St. John's neighborhoods.

Proponents were chosen based on a number of criteria, including an ability to build community capacity such as increasing collaboration among groups, active involvement of people in improving their well-being, developing skills and knowledge and building on existing strengths in the community.

"When people don't have access to safe, nutritious food they face an increased risk for diseases such as heart disease, stroke, cancer and diabetes," said Minister Kennedy. "This government is committed to making strategic investments in health care that encourage healthy living among residents of the province."

Addressing food security is a component of the Provincial Wellness Plan, through which the Provincial Government invests $4.1 million on an annual basis. The aim of the Wellness Plan is to improve overall health and wellness by focusing on health promotion and by strengthening community action to address the plan's priorities.

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Lower Trinity South Regional Development Association
With $42,000 awarded, the Lower Trinity South Regional Development Association will support ongoing use of the greenhouse attached to St. Francis School in Harbour Grace, which shows children how to grow and prepare healthy foods. Research shows that children will eat what they grow. The program also helps children understand how food maintains health. The Lower Trinity South Regional Development Association, a non-profit group that has been established for 17 years, is a member of the Regional Wellness Coalition and shares its vision of supporting community involvement and action to support wellness.

Stella Burry Community Services
Stella Burry Community Services (SBCS) will receive $40,000 to create a wellness program for participants who avail of food security programs. Funding will also enable the creation of a wellness co-ordinator. The co-ordinator will play a key role in the engagement of participants in healthy eating through community kitchens and increased physical activity through programming and partnerships with the City of St. John's and the YMCA. Since 1979, SBCS has offered programs that provide counseling and support to those who experience mental health issues, personal and family breakdown, lack of education and opportunity and a range of other barriers, with the goal that they may become full participants in community life.

Daybreak Parent Child Centre
Daybreak Parent Child Centre will receive $31,000 for a project that will address the need for parents to learn practical hands-on approaches to improving family's eating habits and increasing physical activity. The centre will use a peer facilitator training program and implement a group-based parent program focused on healthy meal planning and budgeting, active living and information on access to community/neighbourhood supports. Daybreak Parent Child Centre was established in 1972 with a goal to provide optimal learning, development and programming for children and families.

Food Education Action
Food Education Action - St. John's (FEASt) will receive $10,000 for Fertile Ground - Growing Together in Pippy Park. This project will educate people about issues of local food security, protection of agricultural land and the benefits of community gardening; launch a family and children learning garden; develop a long-term vision for creating new gardens within Pippy Park; and develop an organic community garden manual. FEASt is a largely volunteer-run initiative that was formed in 2007 with a mission to cultivate creative change from the ground up, harvesting healthy communities while getting to the root of food systems.

Atlantic Canadian Organic Regional Network, Newfoundland and Labrador
The Atlantic Canadian Organic Regional Network (ACORN-NL), based in St. John's, will develop a program that will provide training opportunities for future employment for young farmers and a series of workshops for the general public on organic farming with a hands-on and on-farm component. It aims to strengthen rural communities and promote healthy eating and sustainable lifestyle through skills development and information sharing. The network will receive $9,000. ACORN-NL was formed in 2008 and represents producers, gardeners, consumers, researchers, activists, retailers and others interested in enhancing the viability of organic agriculture and increasing public awareness of local organic food issues.