Skip to content

Houston Link to Learning starts a good food box program

Ideal for those not comfortable driving out of town in the winter to grocery shop, now there is a good food box program

Ideal for those not comfortable driving out of town in the winter to grocery shop, now there is a good food box program where people can order approximately 22 lbs of assorted whole-hearted fruits and vegetables at a reduced cost of $25, and pick up their order at the Morice building of the Houston Northwest Community College.

The Houston Link to Learning received a $3000 grant from the Regional District of Bulkley Nechako to help fund the coordination of this program, which runs until the end of April.

“This program has run in Houston before, but for a very short time. It really needs a lot of volunteers and help. We’ve wanted to run this for a while, since it coincides with what we do already, like the community garden and farmer’s market, but we just didn’t have the capacity until now thanks to this funding,” said Marian Ells, program manager of Houston Link to Learning.

Order forms are available at the front desk of the Houston Northwest Community College. Every two weeks residents can place an order. Orders are due at noon on the Friday before the Tuesday pick up date.

Bulkley Valley Whole Sale is supplying the fruits and vegetables which they will deliver on Tuesday for volunteers to separate into boxes and be available for pick up that same day.

“It’s about bulk buying and saving. We are happy to do this in Houston, especially with our current lack of a grocery store, it’s challenging. There are a few businesses in town helping [to alleviate that struggle], and this is just another way to do that,”commented Ells.

More than just making it access to healthy food easier on residents, it’s a program that provides food security for those in need.

On the order form there is an option to pay $30, of which $5 will go towards helping pay for a food box for a family in need.

Even if you are not interested in buying a box for your own use, you can donate an order and support a family within your own community.

The types of food you can expect to get will vary depending on what is in season and on sale.

“Basically in every box there is going to be potatoes, carrots, and onions. Beyond that it’s going to based on seasonal and what is one sale. This time [for December] there will be broccoli, turnips, garlic, apples and oranges. We hope to add somethings that people don’t eat all the time, and add a couple of recipes with each box,” said Ells.

For more information about this program, or to sign up as a volunteer, contact the Houston Link to Learning at 845-2727.