Local Journalism Initiative
Radha Agarwal, Local Journalism Initiative
About 300 households will benefit monthly from a new shopping-model pantry opening in Daajing Giids by the Island Wellness Society (IWS).
IWS is a non-profit charitable agency that has been serving families in the southern part of Haida Gwaii for over 40 years. They started their food bank during the summer of 2013 to feed residents for free by providing grocery subsidies and emergency food hampers.
In 2024, they received $53,000 from the province for major renovations and upgrades to their food bank facility.
“We know people are having a hard time right now. Interest rates and rising costs for daily essentials like groceries are making it harder for people to put good food on the table… This year, $4 million was distributed to 65 organizations throughout B.C. via the Critical Food Infrastructure Fund,” said the Ministry of Social Development and Poverty Reduction.
IWS will transform their storage into a shopping-model pantry and increase food preservation capacity with new equipment.
“We are very fortunate to live amongst abundance and alongside many skilled gatherers and growers.”
Haley Fields, IWS food bank coordinator
“Currently, our food storage pantry is very basic. We have very limited cold storage, meaning we are restricted in terms of the volume of fresh food such as produce and dairy that we can offer,” said Haley Fields, food bank coordinator, IWS.
“The renovation will include a full remodel of the pantry space, including drywalling, painting, stainless steel modular shelving, and commercial grade cold storage – both fridge and freezer. We will also be adding food preservation equipment to our inventory (dehydrator, vacuum sealer), which allows us to increase the amount of locally sourced food items we will be able to offer.”
Before, members would drop by to pick up a pre-made standardized food box. She says that while the new grocery store model will continue to be free for them, it will make the environment more client-centred and allow them to hand-pick the items they want from the shelves, fridge, and freezer. It will reduce waste as they won’t take home what they don’t want, and most importantly, it will instill a feeling of dignity and autonomy.
“The cost of bringing food to Haida Gwaii adds a premium that is simply insurmountable for many households.”
Haley Fields, IWS food bank coordinator
“We are very fortunate to live amongst abundance and alongside many skilled gatherers and growers,” said Haley. IWS will economically support local growers by buying their offerings through their food purchasing budget.
“We also identify that the cost of food across the province has risen rapidly in recent years. This issue is exponential in a remote place like Haida Gwaii. The cost of bringing food to Haida Gwaii adds a premium that is simply insurmountable for many households,” said Haley.
The food bank wants to continue feeding people regardless of their financial condition. Haley mentioned how the culture in Haida Gwaii functions as a collective.
“If my neighbour is well, I am well,” she said.
They anticipate the physical renovation of the pantry to be finished by the holiday season this winter. Other changes, such as implementing the shopping-model pantry system and new preservation systems, will happen within six months to a year.
