Sabrina's Story

Every month, the pre-primary students from Harbour View Elementary visit the Dartmouth North Community Food Centre. Together, these three and four-year-olds listen to stories, sing songs and make a simple recipe together to enjoy as a group. This was Sabrina’s first introduction to the Community Food Centre. She attended with her son’s class as a parent volunteer and when she heard about the Monday night Family Suppers, she was interested. Soon Sabrina was signing up for the Community Action training.

“I was looking for a change in my life… and I decided I needed to be helpful,” she says.

The 11-week course was a game changer.

“It focused on community advocacy… I learned what an advocate was and their role and when the [Peer Advocate] position became available I applied with curiosity."

Peer advocates like Sabrina work volunteer shifts at the Community Food Centre every week. During drop-ins they meet with participants to help them navigate issues such as housing or employment assistance and connect them with other services and resources.

“Although most of the time I feel like the most I can do in a situation is listen, there is a rewarding feeling when you’ve actually helped someone through a situation,” says Sabrina.

Sabrina says she’s discovered an interest in issues she was not aware of before and is eager to advocate for change.

“A place like this is so unique in the ways it can be utilized,” she says. “To each person that uses it, it serves a different purpose. Some people use it as a safe place or place to socialize. Some people use it for food. I’m using it as a place of learning, a place to build my confidence in expressing myself and a place that I can share with my family.”

April's Story

Having a baby can be a time of pure, unadulterated joy. Yet for some moms, post-partum depression hits and leaves them feeling sad, depleted and helpless.

“After my second daughter was born… it was mostly me at home with the girls every day,” explains mother of two April. “I was really isolated, and the post-partum was bad.”

A visiting public health nurse referred her to the Dartmouth Family Centre’s Home Visiting Program. From there, April built up the courage to take her kids to programs at the Family Centre site. Having long suffered from social anxiety, April was understandably nervous.

But since she gathered up the courage last spring, she hasn’t looked back. These days, the family attends programs like Food & Families, where little ones can try their hand at cooking, the Wednesday community lunch and the occasional family dinner. She is also a regular participant in parenting programs as well. The little girls are also hoping to get back out into the big community garden this summer with a program known as the Sunshine Gang.

“I found my tribe,” April laughs. “For me, it’s a chance to get out of my head. I’ve made many new friends. And so have my girls.”

She loves to see her daughters busily chopping and slicing using special kid-friendly plastic knives at mini tables. It also makes a big difference to the family’s limited budget to have fewer meals to worry about cooking at home.

“We are all comfortable there. When we walk in, people are so friendly. Finally, we feel part of a community.”

Why I Give: Matt’s Story

Before Atlantic Canada’s first Community Food Centre even opened its doors in Dartmouth North, Matt could tell it was going to be a unique and special place. “Even when this place was empty, it already had good energy,” he says.

Matt remembers touring the site in hard hats with his boss at the time, Robert Chisholm, former MP for Dartmouth Cole Harbour. “We were around when the idea was being conceived and then when the space was being renovated.” You could say he’s been a fan ever since.

“This is the most amazing good news story to hit Dartmouth over the last 10 years.”

— Matt, monthly donor

After the centre opened Matt decided to become a monthly donor and is part the organization’s Give to Grow network.

The organization’s mission “spoke for itself” but it was the community’s deep engagement in daily programming that sealed the deal for Matt, who grew up in Dartmouth and lives here with his wife and three daughters.

 “When you have a volunteer network with 100 people signing up to help in your first month that speaks volumes” says Matt.  “If the community is willing to invest that much time and effort, then it deserves my support.”

More than half of the food centre’s program participants also volunteer to make those programs possible.

Matt appreciates how monthly giving, makes donating quick, easy and painless – and he knows his regular gift plays an important role in an organization’s sustainability. “I don’t miss the monthly payment and I know it makes a big difference for planning and budgeting. It just makes sense!”

If you want to be part of the movement for good food in Dartmouth North, join our monthly giving program. 

Doris's Story

If you walk into the Dartmouth North Community Food Centre on most days, one of the first people you’re likely to see is Doris. And you’ll almost always be greeted the same way: with a great, big hug.

“The hugs help so much,” says Doris. “It means so much to people, that bit of help and support.”

Doris has been a resident of Dartmouth North for more than 40 years and has been involved in her community almost as long. She has been a driving force for organizations like the Holy Trinity Emmanuel Church, the breakfast program at Harbour View School, and the District Nine Citizen’s Association, of which she served as treasurer for 14 years.

That dedication to her community first led her to the food  centre in the fall of 2015.

“I thought it was a great idea for folks to get food cheaper. A lot of people, especially families with kids, can’t afford to buy fruits and vegetables and we all need that. To me, it’s great to
know that people could come into buy their produce and get a meal too.”

As Doris’ involvement in the centre grew, she noticed an opportunity to do even more good in the community.

“I said to Deb (the food centre’s manager) ‘you’ve got the family supper on Monday night’s, why don’t we do a market with the leftovers from Friday?’ and she said to me ‘we don’t have anyone to run it.’ I immediately told her ‘yes you do, you’ve got me!’ I’ve been helping run the Monday mini market ever since.”

That can-do attitude led her to first get involved with the centre’s walking group too.

“I needed to walk and I enjoy the people in the group. We have a lot of laughs together! I really enjoy getting to see people out on the street and I make sure I say hello to everyone.”

Doris also walks for her health.

“Even with braces on my legs and arthritis in my hips and back, I’ve gotta keep going. You cannot stop! That’s why I’ve got my pedometer on all the time. I did 17 kilometres the other day!”

When the opportunity to join the Good Food Crusaders, the centre’s Blue Nose Marathon team, came up, Doris jumped in with her trademark gusto for one simple reason.

“To make money for the food centre! We need money so we can continue to do good in the community. I want to do my part to support the staff and volunteers here that mean so much to me. I’ve already raised $600 and I’m not finished yet!”

Want to help support Doris and the Good Food Crusader? Visit www.goodfoodcrusaders.ca !

Volunteer Spotlight: Carolyn Humphreys

Long before the Dartmouth North Community Food Centre opened its doors, Carolyn Humphreys was looking for a way to give back.

“Healthy food has always been a passion of mine,” she says. An online search brought Carolyn to the Dartmouth Family Centre where a growing focus on food was already taking shape. “I started volunteering at cooking classes for kids and adults. I did that for two years before the food centre opened.”

“Everyone is equally welcome. Everyone is invited to share what they can offer and receive what they need…all in a way that is just so positive. We all need these places where we can participate and learn and contribute.”

One day Carolyn mentioned another one of her passions – yoga. As a trained instructor, she loved creating opportunities for people to breathe and move their body in a way that’s healthy and safe. And that’s when Friday Yoga at the Dartmouth North Community Food Centre was born.

Every week the dining tables are pushed to the side of the room and people of all ages, shapes and sizes gather together to breathe, move and relax. 

“We practice gentle yoga. It’s good for anybody. You can sit in a chair. You can stand.  Everyone is welcome and everyone can participate,” says Carolyn, who has led the class for two years.
Having classes in the food centre makes it more accessible for people living in the neighbourhood and because it’s not a yoga studio, there’s “a sense of comfort and safety.”

People often tell Carolyn how much they enjoy the weekly class. “I hear ‘Wow, I feel so much better.’ Or ‘My body is really feeling relaxed.’ You can see changes in people over the weeks that they come,” she says.

After class there is always some food and social time – staples of every program at the Community Food Centre. “We talk about food and health issues and continue the conversation. There’s a great sense community.”

Every week the dining tables are pushed to the side of the room and people of all ages, shapes and sizes gather together to breathe, move and relax. 

“We practice gentle yoga. It’s good for anybody. You can sit in a chair. You can stand.  Everyone is welcome and everyone can participate,” says Carolyn, who has led the class for two years.
Having classes in the food centre makes it more accessible for people living in the neighbourhood and because it’s not a yoga studio, there’s “a sense of comfort and safety.”

People often tell Carolyn how much they enjoy the weekly class. “I hear ‘Wow, I feel so much better.’ Or ‘My body is really feeling relaxed.’ You can see changes in people over the weeks that they come,” she says.

After class there is always some food and social time – staples of every program at the Community Food Centre. “We talk about food and health issues and continue the conversation. There’s a great sense community.”

Carolyn's story

Every week Carolyn puts on an apron, rolls up her sleeves and gets ready to help out in the kitchen at the Dartmouth North Community Food Centre.

“It gets me out of the house and doing something,” she says. “I like helping out with the food, cutting veggies or whatever needs doing.”

Carolyn takes the bus over from Halifax every week to help prepare for Friday’s Good Food Market & Café. The weekly produce market makes fresh fruit and vegetables accessible and affordable to the community, while the café offers healthy, nutritious snacks free of charge.

Produce at the market is sold at wholesale cost and split up into smaller packages to make it as affordable as possible. After people buy their produce they can sit in the café to enjoy a snack, connect with neighbours or meet new friends.

“We make quiche and all kinds of salads. Sometimes we make oatmeal squares. There’s lots of good food available for people who are struggling to make ends meet.”

Like Carolyn, almost half of the people who volunteer at the Community Food Centre also participate in its programs. And for most the chance to connect with others is as important as the good food.

“It’s a great place to meet people and make friends,” says Carolyn, who grew up surrounded by family and friends and has found living alone in a small apartment difficult.

“Pitching in makes me feel good,” Carolyn explains. “I like doing stuff for someone else. When I was home alone, it was like I was in a shell. Now I feel more open about myself.”
 

Chastin's Story

Chastin was 15 years old and pregnant when she first walked into the Dartmouth Family Centre. “I came in for prenatal and it taught me so much. It’s a big part of the parent I am today and why I was able to succeed at such a young age.”

Photo Credit: Snickerdoodle Photography

In her prenatal class Chastin learned how to care for herself and her baby and she slowly built a circle of friends – other moms who shared experiences and provided emotional support. Eight years later, those connections are still going strong. “We’re still friends and it’s been great watching their families grow up.” 

“This place has supported me for eight years. It’s been a constant in my life. It’s good for me. It’s good for my children. I’ve learned how to be a better mom and a better person”

With the support of Family Centre staff and programming, Chastin was determined to return to high school after the birth of her first daughter Brooklynn. She graduated and over time set her sights on post-secondary education. “Family centre staff and the other moms really encouraged me and supported me through college. They really believed in me.”

Today the Family and Food Centres both play a regular role in Chastin’s family life and the lives of her three children. She and her daughters regularly participate in programs and attend family suppers as well as the weekly produce market. 

Chastin spreads the word about the centre’s resources with other parents and she has learned how to advocate for herself and her kids.

Chastin, who sometimes struggles in social settings outside her home, says the family centre has always felt safe and comfortable. “You never leave feeling sad. You always feel like you learn and feel uplifted. It’s a great place to connect with other people and resources.”
 

Charlie's Story

Photo Credit: Snickerdoodle Photography

If you’ve ever visited the Dartmouth North Community Food Centre, then you’ve met Charlie. He’s more than just a familiar face, Charlie’s warm and welcoming smile is a fixture at so many food centre events and programs.

“Charlie has been a constant around here since we opened our doors in the summer of 2015,” says Deborah Dickey, manager of the Dartmouth North Community Food Centre.

Charlie, like many of his neighbours, was initially drawn to the food centre’s drop-ins and Community Meals, but quickly wanted to get more involved by helping out. 

“We don’t just ‘fill’ volunteer spaces at the food centre – we work hard to match volunteers with the right position for them. We treat volunteering with the same care and attention as job vacancies,” says Dickey. “We look at each individual’s skills and try to find a way can make their own mark.” 

Charlie took immediate pride in contributing to the food centre’s programs and before long, he was regularly riding his bike over to do whatever was needed. “I ended up doing everything here – cleaning, food prep, dish room, clearing tables, laundry. I help carrying in supplies,” he says.

Charlie’s consistency and determination caught Dickey’s attention, so when she was considering hiring a cleaning service for the food centre she realized Charlie might be a perfect fit.

“I am the staff cleaner for the Centre now. I think it’s great! I used to be down but now I’m up! It’s a tough job but somebody’s got to do it,” he says with his usual good nature.

There’s no doubt that Charlie is thrilled to have a job, but for him, the best part is still the sense of community.  “The best part is getting to know all the people who come here, especially the staff; I like making new friends.”
 

Family foundation honours Dad’s commitment to community with multi-year gift to Dartmouth North

Good food and giving back were at the heart of Ernest Edwards entire professional life and now his family is paying tribute to his legacy with a five-year gift to the Dartmouth North Community Food Centre.

“Dad would have loved this,” said Gary Edwards, head of the Edwards Family Charitable Foundation, during a recent visit to the Community Food Centre’s urban farm. “Our connection to food is so important…this gift continues the work that my Dad has done since he made his first dollar.”

The foundation is contributing $10,000 a year to the Dartmouth North Community Food Centre over the next five years.

“This gift will allow so many people in Dartmouth North to grow, cook and share good food together, and to build new connections and community while they do it. We are proud to be part of the Edwards Family Foundation’s ongoing impact in this province,” said Roxanne Manning, Executive Director of the Dartmouth Family Centre, which runs the Community Food Centre.

Photo Credit: Snickerdoodle Photography

The Edwards Family Foundation was created in honour of Ernest and Bridget (Delia) Edwards who were well known pioneers in Halifax’s restaurant industry. Ernest ran his first lunch counter in 1948 before opening his own business, Edwards Fine Foods.
Over the years Edwards owned eight lunch counters and the Town & Country restaurant on Quinpool Road, but he is perhaps best known for bringing the Kentucky Fried Chicken franchise to Atlantic Canada and for the close personal relationship he forged with Colonel Sanders over the years. 

Even after he retired, food figured prominently in Edwards’ life as he bought land in Prospect so he could clear and tend his own family farm. The family foundation was created in the 80s with a focus on supporting organizations working in children’s health, family poverty and food security

“This [the Community Food Centre] is something our father would have been incredibly enthusiastic about,” said Edwards. “…To us it’s a magical thing; I walk into that kitchen and I’m home.”

Dristine's Farm Story

Meet Dristine and Raven, two of our newest farm participants.

Dristine has lived in Dartmouth North for most of her life, but only recently started coming to the Dartmouth North Community Food Centre. Walking by one day this spring, she saw the work happening on the Community Farm and stopped to say hello. She and her young daughter Raven have been stopping by regularly ever since.

“I volunteered my gardening skills…as soon as I found out about the initiative because I believe having the right to grow food means we can create the food security low income communities need. I believe if we increase efforts such as this one at a greater speed in the metro area it will undoubtedly create less violence and stronger community bonds through food security.”

Being connected to the land by growing your own food is rewarding and healing, says Dristine. She was introduced to gardening at a young age through her grandfather’s garden and has a strong knowledge of companion planting. 

“I love the study of which plants benefit from growing together, and knowing my food is organic and not full of pesticides is a wonderful thing.”

Unfortunately, this year Dristine does not have a backyard or balcony to grow on, so having access to the Community Farm and Food Centre is a blessing, she says.

“I am most looking forward to the harvest time — August for berries! — when we can feed even more low income people like myself and people with disabilities, and take some of the stress off of them with this great gift.”

Dristine says she would love to see more children learn growing skills by getting their hands dirty on the farm.

“We can learn a lot from our children and they belong outside enjoying the good life at the farm, not glued to a TV screen. They deserve more natural and safe spaces where they can let loose and get dirty and learn valuable skills at the same time. I had that in my grandfather’s garden and I wish every child could have that feeling.”