Restaurants for Change fundraiser supports low-income communities

"Dine out. Do good." That's what Community Food Centres Canada (CFCC)wants you to do on October 18.

The national initiative "Restaurants for Change" is taking place at 92 restaurants in 19 cities, including Kitchener, Guelph and Stratford. On that day, the restaurants donate proceeds from their dinner service to CFCC which helps the organization to support low-income communities across Canada.

Since 2014, the first year Restaurants for Change took place, the annual event has raised about $600,000.

"Community Food Centres Canada was founded in 2012 to drive the development of communityfood centres across Canada in low-income communities and bring people together to grow, cook,share and advocate for good food for all," according to Christina Palassio of CFCC.

The CFCC helps develop community food centres across the country and collaborates withneighbourhood organizations to support their work to create food programs and food security.

There are currently eight centres. "We also work with about 100 organizations that are offeringgood food programs which are part of our network," saidPalassio.

Not food banks

The centres are not food banks but help people with peer advocacy support and programminglike community kitchens and gardens where they can build food skills and nutritional knowledge.

"People can find a friendly ear and assistance in accessing legal help or language and housingsupport," saidPalassio. "It's also a place where kids can come and learn about food, get theirhands dirty in the garden and learn how to cook."

Like community centres with a focus on food, the centres are non-profit and are funded byindividuals, foundations, corporations and governments. The proceeds from Restaurants forChange help support the food centre in the specific city as well as CFCC's national work.

Palassio says that the restaurants involved in the event have a deep connection with local foodand where and how it is sourced and grown. "They understand the power of food and connectingthrough food," saidPalassio.

Julia Allum is the manager of media and promotions of The Hub restaurant at 27 Marketplace inStratford.

"We recognize the great programs offered by The Local Community Food Centrehere in Stratford, including education, community gardens, and atwice weekly farmers' market so low income families can have access to healthy food.

It'sfantastic for Stratford, and we just want to give back to our community in participating onOctober 18," said Allum.

Food 'inequities'

The work is done by the restaurant all diners have to is make a reservation and enjoy a meal. Many restaurants already have an important connection with local food, and they believe in thepower of food, says Palassio.

"What we see every day is that while many Canadians are moreand more aware of where their food comes from and how it's grown and the impact it has ontheir health, there are millions of Canadians who can't afford enough food for themselves andtheir families," she saidadding that it is not because there is not enough food in Canada.

"It's because people don't have enough money to able to buy the food that they need. A big partof what we do is to try to find ways to involve people in communities in talking about thoseinequalities and advocating for solutions at the policy level that ensure that every Canadian hasenough money to access the good food they need. Chefs have a role to play in that."

Area restaurants participating in "Restaurants for Change" on October 18:

• Artisanale French Country Cooking, Guelph.
• Earth to Table Bread Bar, Guelph.
• The Berlin, Kitchener.
• The Hub at 27 Marketplace, Stratford.

For more information about restaurants participating across the country, visit http://restaurantsforchange.ca/ and make a dinner reservation.

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