In an email circulated today, the Africa Centre announced that they were closing the Food Program. The Food Program provided culturally sensitive foods to people of African descent during the pandemic and through to December 17th, the last pick up date of the program. The reason for the closure at the outset of the fifth wave remains unclear.
The Africa Centre is a community organisation that provides a range of programs and services for Albertans of African descent.
The Africa Diaspora Covid 19 Response Initiative created a food bank that provided culturally appropriate and staple food items to individuals and families. This was necessary to respond to the urgency that Albertans of African descent were disproportionately affected by the Covid 19 pandemic.
The Africa Centre reports that the Food Program has helped more than 5000 people since its inception.Some of the foods in the hampers included such as was not available at other Food Banks like beans, garri, palm oil, dried fish and so on.
The Black Led organisations that contributed to the success of the Food Bank are:
- The Nile Valley Foundation
- The Liberia Friendship Society of Canada (LFSC)
- The Zimbabwe Cultural Society of Alberta
- The Bernadette Swan Social Foundation (BSSF)
- The Sickle Cell Foundation of Alberta (SFA)(
- The Cameroonian Association of Edmonton
- Fuse In Who am I
- The Family Advancement Association
- The Jamaica Association of Northern Alberta
- The Sierra Leone Association of Alberta
- The Black Students Association University of Alberta
They urged their members to check out Khair For All (KFA) organisation. They provide an food boxes containing culturally relevant food items including non perishable items at a discounted price. If this closure affects you, please register with the Edmonton Food Bank.
Tee Adeyemo writes for LCCMedia. She is also the publisher of Ladies Corner Magazine. Ladies Corner Magazine is published quarterly in Edmonton. Their winter edition is out now.
