The Downtown Windsor BIA is extending its Good Greens Food Reclamation Program thanks to a grant from Hydro One.
The $25,000 grant will support volunteers and vendors of the Downtown Windsor Farmers' Market send their leftover produce and baked goods to downtown non-profit organizations.
"I talk to the people who are receiving this produce and they really need this. There's a lot of people downtown and a lot of people all over the county that need this produce and rely on it to feed their children. That's really humbling," said Steeve Bouchard, owner and operator of Bouchard Farms.
Since October 2024, the program has helped to reclaim over 6,400 pounds of fresh produce and served more than 10,000 meals.
"We're able to use it to create nutritious meals for the people we are serving and we're also able to support the greater community. People who are struggling with food insecurity through our food bank and we can create food packages for people moving out of homelessness into housing," said Jessica Macasaet-Bondy with the Welcome Centre Shelter for Women and Families.
The Welcome Centre Shelter for Women and Families is one of seven downtown organizations that receive donations weekly.
With the grant from Hydro One the program will continue until June of next year.
