Food sustainability for seniors will be the focus of an awareness event at the Williams Lake Seniors Activity Centre Thursday, June 13.
“Food costs are high and it is difficult for vulnerable adults and seniors,” said Peggy Christianson, coordinator for the Williams Lake B.C. Community Response Network,
“Seniors have not received increases to the Canada Pension and Old Age Security.”
For the event, various organizations will have tables to share information about food-related sources in the community, such as the Salvation Army food bank and soup kitchen, Central Cariboo Community Food Hub, Society of Saint Vincent de Paul food bank and lunch in the park Sundays, Women’s Contact Society Good Food Box, the Cariboo Chilcotin Partners For Literacy information on food preparation and phone apps that alert customers to grocery deals at various stores, Canadian Mental Health, Williams Lake Hospice Society, information on canning, gardening with the garden club, Potato House Society, Better At Home and more yet to be confirmed.
The event will go from 2 to 4:30 p.m. and the first 50 people will receive tomato plants grown by the Williams Lake Secondary School gardening club.
Christianson said they received a grant from the Ministry of Health to purchase the plants.
Anyone in the community who has means to contribute to help a senior who many need help can always do so anonymously, she added. She can be reached at 250-267-1644.
Christianson was born in the Northwest Territories and has lived in Williams Lake since 1972.
For 30 years she worked in food services at Cariboo Memorial Hospital and was the supervisor there nine years.
“I also volunteer with restorative justice and emergency support services,” she said.
She has been involved with the B.C. Community Response Network for three years and became the coordinator in February of this year.
The event is to being held to mark World Elder Abuse Awareness Day, which is actually June 15.
Each year the day is celebrated globally to provide an opportunity for communities to stand together against abuse, mistreatment and neglect of older people.
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