Sara Collyer: Neighbour To Neighbour

Sara Collyer is the operations manager of Neighbour to Neighbour on Hamilton Mountain. The Neighbour to Neighbour Centre improves the ability of residents to be self-sufficient and enhances the quality of their lives through programs and services in the areas of educational services, family support and food access. Sara's presentation this morning focussed on food access and education.

At present 13 schools are involved, 9 with community gardens where children plant and harvest crops and learn about food production. Along with a visiting program and single mother program for family services and the educational component which includes a used book store and tutoring classes, the community food programs serve 1200 families a month. 

There is a free grocery store with carts and aisles where shoppers use their food points to purchase what they need and want. There are 17 community gardens, the 9 in the schools plus 8 donation gardens and family plots. There are 15 community kitchens where groups learn how to cook and use fresh crops as well as get to eat the results of their efforts.  A mobile food bank delivers food to the disabled, the elderly and the ill. There is a farm program where individuals can visit farms and purchase fresh produce with money from Neighbour to Neighbour, and, a free market where donations are provided by the farmers. As well, 1600 families are provided with a Christmas hamper each.

Neighbour to Neighbour has a budget of about $1 million, has 9 full-time equivalent staff and over 600 volunteers. Some funds are provided by federal and municipal grants with the remainder through charitable donations.

For more information go to www.n2ncentre.com/