APLA 2019

According to Statistics Canada, 1 in 8 Canadian households are currently food insecure. Halifax, Nova Scotia, has the highest proportion of food insecure households in the country. Grocery prices are anticipated to rise in 2019 by at least $400/year per household.

Over the last year, Halifax Public Libraries (HPL) has committed to food literacy programming. By securing grants and developing lasting partnerships with community organizations, library branches have been able to: host regular food programs, develop new kitchen spaces, venture into the community to teach food literacy and hire a Food Literacy Specialist. These initiatives deepened our awareness of food scarcity in our communities, and underscored the importance of continued food programming and healthy snack delivery in our libraries.

In this presentation, three library staff will share their experiences addressing food insecurity through community responsiveness and collective impact approaches. Presenters will discuss the development of food strategies at HPL, successes & challenges, partnerships, fundraising opportunities, programs, and future plans.