QAJUQTURVIK COMMUNITY FOOD CENTRE

QCFC STRIVES TO STRENGTHEN HEALTH BELONGING AND FOOD SOVEREIGNTY IN IQALUIT ANS NUNAVUT UTILIZING THE POWER OF TRADITION AND COMMUNITY. OUR PROGRAMMING CONSISTS OF A COMBINATION OF FOOD ACCESS FOOD SKILLS AND ADVOCACY. FOOD ACCESS PROGRAMMING: WE PROVIDE A COMMUNITY MEAL FIVE DAYS A WEEK FOR 47 WEEKS THAT SERVED A TOTAL OF 60 000 MEALS. WE PROVIDED A WEEKLY PIRUQTUVINIIT AND INULIQTAIT FOOD BOXES DISTRIBUTION OF PRODUCE AND COUNTRY FOOD ON A PAY-WHAT-YOU-CAN BASIS THAT REACHED AN AVERAGE OF 80 HOUSEHOLDS EACH DISTRIBUTION. WE PURCHASED OVER 10 000 KG OF COUNTRY FOOD FROM HARVESTERS IN NUNAVUT TO DISTRIBUTE THROUGH OUR PROGRAMS. FOOD SKILLS PROGRAMMING: WE CONDUCTED 8-WEEK FULL TIME PRE-EMPLOYMENT TRAINING PROGRAM. WE HELD 10-WEEK KIDS’ COOKING CLUB THAT INVOLVED ELEMENTARY SCHOOL CHILDREN. WE ALSO HELD 12-WEEK FOODFIT PROGRAM THAT INVOLVED AT-RISK YOUTH ADVOCACY: WE OFFERED A PEER ADVOCACY PROGRAMS FOR 35 WEEKS FOR COMMUNITY MEMBERS TO RECEIVE ASSISTANCE NAVIGATING THE VARIOUS BARRIERES ACCESSING GOVERNMENT PROGRAMS MENTAL HEALTH RESOURCES AND EMPLOYMENT. WE HELD WEEKLY INUIT WOMEN’S SUPPORT CIRCLE AS WELL AS VARIOUS PUBLIC ADVOCACY AND EDUCATION EVENTS TO ENGAGE OUR COMMUNITY WITH ISSUES OF POVERTY AND FOOD SECURITY. WE ARE ALSO THE PRINCIPAL ADVOCACY GROUP FOR ISSUES OF FOOD SECURITY AND SOVEREIGNTY IN NUNAVUT AND AS SUCH WE REGULARLY APPEAR IN REGIONAL AND NATIONAL MEDIA ON ISSUES SUCH AS FOOD SOVEREIGNTY POVERTY AND LOCAL FOOD SYSTEMS. WE REGULARLY ENGAGE AND INFORM GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS OF MEASURERS THEY CAN TAKE TO AFFECT IMPACT CHANGE. WE WORK WITH OTHER NON-PROFIT AND GOVERNMENTAL PARTNERS THROUGH THE NUNAVUT FOOD SECURITY COALITION AND NUNAVUT ASSOCIATION OF NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATIONS MIND YOUR FOOD: A WEEK-LONG PROGRAM FOR LOCAL YOUTH TO LEARN ON-THE-LAND FOOD SKILLS; FINANCIAL LITERACY SERIES: AN 8-PART WORKSHOP SERIES TO TEACH COMMUNITY MEMBERS ABOUT BUDGETING SKILLS TAX ENTITLEMENTS AND ESTATE PLANNING; BAKING CLUB: A WEEKLY BAKING CLUB HELD AT THE LOCAL HIGH SCHOOL ; EMERGENCY FOOD HAMPERS: A WEEKLY DISTRIBUTION OF FOOD HAMPERS TO LOW INCOME COMMUNITY MEMBERS