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By Angie Sullivan

A new food hub designed to provide emergency food support and affordable fresh food opened at the Pefferlaw Library, located at 76 Pete’s Lane, on Thursday, Oct. 8.

“This is a place for everyone and from all walks of life,” said Kathryn Sim, the executive director of the Georgina Food Pantry. “It’s been created for the community, by the community.”

The Pefferlaw Food Hub is a collaboration with ClearWater Farm, the Pefferlaw Lions Club, the York Region Food Network, Georgina Food Pantry and Georgina’s public libraries. It will operate on the second Thursday of every month from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.

“Living in a rural community comes with real challenges, and getting to a food bank shouldn’t be one of them,” said Wendy Busby, director/program chairperson of the Pefferlaw Lions Club. “With food costs rising substantially over the past few years, more of our neighbours are feeling the strain.”

The hub will offer two different services: emergency food hampers by pre-order and the York Region Food Network’s Affordable Fresh Food Market. The Affordable Fresh Food Market offers a range of produce at prices from 50 cents to $3.

Marissa Wiltshire, director of operations with the York Region Food Network, said the network has been running Affordable Fresh Food Markets since 2023 throughout York Region.

“This initiative is a collaboration between local producers, distributors and community groups, and it’s designed to make quality, local and global produce available to everybody in our communities,” said Wiltshire. “From market to market, the offerings will change and we rely on feedback from community members to make sure we bring in produce that they want to see.”

ClearWater Farm is also contributing to the operation by providing refrigerated transportation and a driver.

“We’re proud to support the Pefferlaw Food Hub by providing refrigerated transportation and a driver,” said Shane McGregor, food operations manager at ClearWater Farm. “Reliable cold-chain delivery helps ensure fresh food reaches the Hub safely and in good condition.”

Emergency food hampers must be ordered in advance. Orders are taken by phone on the Tuesday one week before each hub day. Residents who are unable to travel to the library may also be eligible for home delivery.

The library was chosen as the location in part because of its role as an accessible community gathering place.

“At GPL we are happy to support the Pefferlaw Food Hub and help bring this important service directly into the community,” said Joseph Moncada, director of library services with the Georgina Public Library. “Libraries are about more than books. We’re community spaces that can help connect residents with the services, resources and supports they need.”

Georgina Regional Councillor Naomi Davidson said the launch represents a significant milestone for the community.

“I’m so happy to see this goal become reality in Pefferlaw, and it will serve many people,” said Davidson. “It shows how much can happen when we all work together.”

The Pefferlaw Food Hub is a new food-access initiative, with organizers acknowledging they will be learning and adjusting as the program gets underway.

“We are piloting this in Pefferlaw,” said Sim, one of the main organizers from the Georgina Food Pantry. “When it succeeds, it will expand to Keswick.”

“It has been a pleasure working alongside all of our partners on this program, and the Pefferlaw Lions Club is committed to continuing our support and helping this important initiative grow,” said Busby.

They are also looking for more volunteers, food, financial donations and reusable totes. The program also hopes to acquire a new refrigerated vehicle to support the mobile operation.

Residents who would like to support the Pefferlaw Food Hub can donate through the Georgina Community Food Pantry at georginafoodpantry.com.

 

Mike Anderson
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