3 projects aimed at helping alleviate hunger in Whitehorse

A Whitehorse anti-poverty group is working on new ways to help alleviate hunger.

But, the funding won't immediately go towards food. Two of three projects will first be subject to afeasibility study.

The Yukon Anti-Poverty Coalition recently obtained a grant of about $20,000 from the Yukon government's Community Development Fund.

The grant will fund work on three projects.

A 'community food map'

The first project is a map to point to available food.

Kate Mechan is a community outreach coordinator with the Yukon Anti-Poverty Coalition. She says some resources in Whitehorse aren't well-known.

One example is that theVictoria Faulkner Women's Centre serves free meals once a weekon Wednesdays between 11:30 and 1:30.

The centre is a converted homein a residential Whitehorse neighbourhood andMechan says many women likely don't know it serves meals.

"If you're new to town and for whatever reason you don't have access to food, this is something you can use," Mechan says of the map.

Nutrition coupons

A second project is the creation of coupons to help people access Whitehorse's Fireweed Community market. The coupons would assist people to purchase food at the farmers' market.

A similar idea has been established by the BC Farmers' Market Association.

Because the market has prices higher than grocery stores,Mechan says many people in Whitehorse are excluded from shopping there. She says a low incomeshould not bar people from participating in the culture and community of the market.

The idea is still developing. One idea is to make the coupons discreet.

"We want to look at how we can reduce thestigmaof coupons," Mechansays.

A gardening tool lending library

A third project is a lending library for gardening tools, similar to one recently opened in Calgary.

"They function likealibrary to get a book," Mechanexplains.

"If you need a roto-tiller to dig up your back yardthis might be an option," she says.

So far, two of the three projects are still conceptual.

The Food Map project will be completed while the lending library and coupon project are headed for a feasibility study.