Medavie Health Foundation Gives Funding to Peter McKee Community Food Centre
MONCTON – The Medavie Health Foundation announced Thursday that it’s giving a $150,000 grant to Food Depot Alimentaire to help the Peter McKee Community Food Centre in Moncton.
The funding will help the centre provide a community-based approach to healthy eating in an effort to prevent longer term chronic health conditions, including type 2 diabetes.
“The goals of the Peter McKee Community Food Centre align with the foundation’s support of programs that help people live their best lives,” said Medavie CEO Bernard Lord in a release.
“Improving access to healthy food choices and teaching people practical hands-on skills that promote healthy eating will help reduce risk factors for chronic health conditions, including type 2 diabetes. We look forward to seeing the teaching kitchen and the centre become a vital part of our community.”
The grant money will support the centre’s community teaching kitchen – to be named the Medavie Community Kitchen – in educating individuals and families on food skills that will positively impact their food choices and eating behaviours, both of which contribute to healthy eating and chronic disease prevention.
The kitchen will also serve as an engaging space where citizens and community partners can work together to inspire change and empower others.
“We are thrilled to receive the generous support of the Medavie Health Foundation as we undertake phase four of the Peter McKee Community Food Centre,” said Dale Hicks, president of Food Depot Alimentaire. “The teaching kitchen will serve to complement our Community Garden as a much-needed resource for individuals and families to not only have access to fresh fruits and vegetables but to learn how to properly handle and prepare nutritious foods. We look forward to working together with the foundation to provide and promote healthier food choices in our region.”