Cultivating Food Security for Women and Children in Need: Cowichan Green Community

CWAVS Development Manager Chelsey McNeil (left) with Cowichan Green Community Executive Director Kortnee Smith (centre) and Farm Manager Nathan Harben (right).

Cowichan Women Against Violence Society is grateful for the support of Cowichan Green Community. 

Every summer, woman-led families experience a shift in available resources. Without the support of school lunch programs, many mothers struggle to provide food for their school-age children. For women and children rebuilding their lives after violence, a change in access to fresh, healthy food can be a significant obstacle on their healing journey. 

Sunflowers growing at The Farm, Cowichan Green Community headquarters.

Recognizing the need for additional support, CWAVS team members at Kw’i Lelum Second Stage Housing reached out to Cowichan Green Community, who pledged to donate a box of produce every week from July through September to support women and children at our Kw’i Lelum Second Stage Housing program. 

“We are so grateful to [the CGC team] for stepping up and helping to fill that gap for the women here,” said Jennifer Aker, Assistant Program Manager at Kw’i Lelum. The weekly donation, she explained, “helps our moms to make ends meet during the summer months.” 

Farm Manager Nathan Harben (right) discusses current and future Cowichan Green Community efforts with CWAVS Development Manager Chelsey McNeil.

For many, food is the necessity; nutritious and locally grown food is a luxury. Cowichan Green Community is working to change that. Through its Meals on Wheels program, the organization delivers healthy, home-cooked meals to seniors and other community members in need. Fruitsave, another Cowichan Green Community initiative, supplies schools, food banks, and non-profits with produce fresh from their local working farms. Its current project, the Beverly St. Food Hub, will act as a central food distribution hub, community kitchen, and educational space for the Cowichan Valley. 

“We are so pleased to be able to support wherever we can,” said Cowichan Green Community Executive Director Kortnee Smith of the initiative at Kw’i Lelum.  

Farm Manager Nathan Harben echoed this sentiment. “Giving back is one of our priorities. As we expand, we want to be able to provide everyone with more and more.” 

Plots of lettuce, kale, and more flourish at The Farm.

For more information on Cowichan Green Community, visit cowichangreencommunity.org.