CHEP about more than just a good food box
- Andréa Ledding | February 17, 2017
CHEP Good Food was founded over a quarter of a century ago to address child hunger and nutrition in the city of Saskatoon, but has branched out to work on numerous food security initiatives over the years in between.
“We run community markets, deliver nutritious lunches to schools, work with the extensive community gardening program, and of course we’re famous for the Good Food Box,” notes Executive Director Yvonne Hanson. “CHEP has always believed that food connects us as people. Good food should nurture everyone, regardless of income or background. Creating ways for people to make, grow and enjoy good food is our life’s work. The organization is committed to that as a value and our staff and board embody it.”
With the philosophy of giving a hand-up rather than a hand-out – providing people with the tools and skills and access they need to meet their own needs healthfully – CHEP Good Food operates out of offices in Station 20 West, where they run a Thursday community market from 11 to 3 selling fresh affordable fruits, veggies, and eggs. Other community markets exist at St. Thomas Wesley church on H & 20th; Pleasant Hill and W.P. Bate schools; the YWCA; and Sask Polytechnic and the University of Saskatchewan, for students. All these organizations partner with CHEP to successfully run their own markets.
Related:
Every second Wednesday, the Station 20 West auditorium is full of volunteers packing hundreds of Good Food boxes ordered the preceding week. In summer, the askîy – Cree for land – project across the street runs a highly visible container garden on reclaimed land, while providing valuable mentorship for urban agriculture students. And over 45 community gardens are run throughout the city with varying levels of support by CHEP Good Food.
“One thing CHEP does really well is partner with other organizations to create tangible solutions to food security issues,” notes Hanson, adding that perhaps CHEP forgets to self-promote in the process, but it’s so worth promoting. “We continue to serve core neighbourhoods, aware that Indigenous people often are disproportionately impacted by food insecurity.”
In March, the 26th annual Artists Against Hunger Art Auction will take place, CHEP’s major fundraiser and the largest and longest-running art auction in the city. It is artist-friendly: up to 50% of each auctioned painting goes back to the artist, depending on their preference. The auction raises thousands of dollars thanks to not only artwork, but generous corporate sponsorship of organizations like Federated Coop, Robertson Stromberg, Affinity Credit Union, Sunrise Foods, and many others. Additionally, so many members of the community bid on the live and silent auction pieces and enjoy a fun evening out.
“We appreciate the support of the community in the work CHEP Good Food does. We are only as strong as our community lets us be,” says Hanson.
For more information or tickets to attend the art auction see www.chep.org