Food for Life appreciates TELUS Friendly Future Foundation’s generous contribution in helping to fund the lockers.
MILTON – GOOD food BUILDS community! In partnership with the Milton Public Library, Food for Life is celebrating its Penguin Food Locker initiative. These refrigerated food lockers are an innovative, user-centered approach to addressing food insecurity in the community.
“The programmable lock system gives users an individual code allowing them to access fresh food in a discreet, accessible and secure manner,” says Graham Hill, Food for Life Executive Director.
For transitional youth, accessing existing food resources can be a significant barrier, this includes transportation and the hours to access. Located in the library, these lockers facilitate access to fresh food items beyond traditional hours.
“It saves me time and money as a youth in care to have this program available and it’s easy to use. Not having to worry about what I’m going to eat and how I’m going to get it every week has been a huge stress reliever.” says a Food for Life neighbour who accesses the locker program.
Food insecurity does not have a one-size-fits-all solution and the Penguin Locker initiative offers food support outside of traditional food programs.
“We are delighted to be building on our existing partnership with Food for Life by adding the Penguin Food Locker to our shared service offering, out of the Main branch of the Milton Public Library. As an organisation that strives to be a safe and welcoming space for all Miltonians, the provision of fresh food for those in most need in our community really does support Milton Public Library’s mission to empower Miltonians to Read. Learn. Create and Connect. As such, we could not be more thrilled to be the first public library to provide access to this new and enhanced fresh food locker, says Mark Williams, Chief Librarian & CEO, Milton Public Library.
To learn more about the Penguin Locker initiative and community partnership, please contact Lori Brading at lori@foodforlife.ca
