How this mobile pantry is helping women in supportive housing access fresh foods

An initiative that sees amobile food pantry visit vulnerable neighbourhoods in the region has made a big differencefor the women who are part of YW Kitchener-Waterloo Supporting Housing program.

"A lot of our tenants [because of COVID]have become so isolated and just getting out and going to a food bank is a far reach or a far stretch for them," Sheneka Myers,program coordinator with YWsupportive housing, told CBC Kitchener-Waterloo.

"Having it come directly to their home, right outside, it's exciting for them."

The mobile pantry is a new program from The Food Bank of Waterloo Region that launchedinMarch of this year with the goal to visit different areas in the region with households who may be in need.

The YW'ssupportive housing programs offers a home for women who have lived with chronic homelessness, many who are single or with families, Myers said.

She saidthe mobile pantry has been a big help in giving the women in the program access to fresh produce, meats and dairy foods.

Myers says there is a food bank on site for emergency purposes, but when she started in her role, she realized they couldn't store fresh fruit and vegetables.

That sparked conversations to bring the mobile pantryto the YW's supportive housing building every other Monday, Myers explained.

There, thewomen can pick up a pre-packaged hamper andadd other non-perishablefoods, like pastas or soups from bins attached to the side of the truck.

People can also ask forother fooditems to be addedto their hampers like more produce or meatthat are stored in fridges and freezers inside the truck.

"Lots of times we'll have bread, cold meats and sometimes ice cream," said Craig Campbell, a volunteer who drives the food pantry. Fresh eggs and milk may also be on offer, depending on that week's supply at the food bank.

Since the pantry started visitingthe building in September,Myers saidshe's slowly seen more women come out, but many still hesitate to utilize the service due to stigma.

"We almost have to talk them into it because they feelthat,'This isn't somethingfor me, I have to be independent,'" she said.

"There's still a stigma even for the people who it will benefit."

Myers said she tries to encourage more women to access the mobile pantry by promoting it throughtext messages. She hopes that as more tenants come out andsocialize with one another, word of the pantrywill spread and women will feel more comfortable taking the food.