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The “upstream” look at food insecurity inspired Mamdani to bring together industry representatives from a variety of sectors to find a way to support struggling local businesses and partner with agencies already working to feed Calgarians in need.
“From an upstream food cycle perspective I think the need is going to be there for multiple years to come, and the recovery process is going to be a difficult one for a lot of these farmers and producers who may not make it through 2021,” she said. “The focus for the next short-term period has to be in understanding the situation more, spending some time learning where the struggles lie.”
The Leftovers Foundation has hired five delivery drivers and one food assessor to create much-needed employment for those in the industry out of work.
“For every $1 we spend, we get a $6 return back into the economy,” she said. “And then go further than that, we’re exploring how can those that can afford to put money into the food system supplement those that can’t.”
The 30-day campaign has a fundraising goal of $10,000, which will help supplement the driver and assessor’s wages to support the system and stimulate the economy.
In the future, Mamdani said the organization will be looking at changing policy around “rescuing” food, which certain restrictions make difficult.
“If we need to play a role in adjusting those, that requires funding. That can’t be dependent on a bunch of organizations working in silo, we need to come together and say how do we make a collaborative impact here.
“Overall, nobody should have to be acquiring food in a way that doesn’t give them dignity,” she said. “They shouldn’t necessarily have to produce their T4 slips and talk about how poor they are and how badly they need food to feed their families . . . how do we support the entire food system right from the highest levels down and make an impact.”
ocondon@postmedia.com
Twitter: @oliviacondon
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