West Island Solidarity Gardens grow food insecurity initiative

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West Island Solidarity Gardens — a community initiative asking West Islanders to grow a vegetable garden and give some of their harvest to a local food bank — is back again this summer.

Last year’s inaugural effort was deemed a success by West Island Community Shares, which partnered with local food banks to help provide fresh produce for more than 750 families.

This year, more community organizations, corporate partners will be involved.

In addition to gardens in Pierrefonds-Roxboro, Dollard-des-Ormeaux will be adding 10 new gardens. Pointe-Claire will also be planting a new Solidarity Orchard in memory of those residents who passed away from COVID-19.

Organizers are also adding a balcony gardening component to include residents who do not have access to land but still want to develop to grow fresh produce and help their community.

This year’s harvest will be donated to West Island Mission, On Rock Community Services, West Island Assistance Fund, Corbeille de pain, Marché Solidaire A-Ma-Baie  and  l’Équipe Entreprise.

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Six additional community organizations will also benefit from this year’s collective effort: YMCA Pointe-Claire, Centre Bienvenue, West Island Association for the Intellectually Handicapped, OMEGA Community Resources, Pierrefonds Community Project and the West Island Homeless Shelter operated by AJOI.

Food insecurity remains a problem in parts of the West Island, a problem made worse by the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Food insecurity remains one of the main concerns for those who are isolated, sick or without work,” West Island Community Shares said in a statement.

“Our local food banks faced an increase between 20  and 50 percent  in the number of families requesting food baskets. West Island Community Shares, West Island Mission and Corbeille de pain collaborated to create the Solidarity Gardens initiative in the spring of 2020 which provided fresh produce to other community organizations on the West Island.”

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Suzanne Scarrow, executive director of the West Island Mission, said the community effort will help those most in need.

“Not only are we grateful to be able to repeat again our Solidarity Gardens initiative, we have doubled our number of gardens beds for this growing season. This has allowed us to welcome even more partners and additional community organizations, benefiting even more individuals struggling with food insecurity.”

For more information on the Solidarity Gardens initiative, visit www.wimmoi.org or the Facebook page: Facebook.com/westislandmission/

jmeagher@postmedia.com.