The Powell River Food Security Project (PRFSP) is a Vancouver Coastal Health funded program of PREP Society that carries out a range of activities to:

-increase local awareness of food security issues;
-improve food-related knowledge and skills;
- strengthen community capacity to address local food security issues; and,
-collaborate with local government, organizations, networks and community members to develop food security action plans and policies.

The FSP works with schools, City Council, the Regional District, health and other services, as well as groups and community members, to carry out this work.

Current projects include:
-undertaking a Community Food System Assessment to establish baseline information for policy-making in the region;
- the building of school food gardens and development of Farm to School educational programs;
-running a weekly community kitchen for young people transitioning to independent living (see the YACK page at: https://www.facebook.com/PowellRiverYACK);
- working with local organizations to develop agrarian capacity and education opportunities in the region and,
- the expansion of the Farmers Market Nutrition Coupon Program to include low-income seniors' access to fresh, local food.

The project has a particular emphasis on increasing food security for vulnerable populations, such as seniors and young people, and focuses on education and policy-making as effective strategies for achieving these goals.

Each year, the FSP holds the Powell River Edible Garden Tour to showcase food-producing gardens in the region and support residents in learning to grow their own food. More information on this event can be found at: https://www.facebook.com/PowellRiverEdibleGardenTour

Please contact Vanessa Sparrow, FSP Coordinator, at fsp@prepsociety.org for more information.