Neighbourhood Kitchen Fund

Investing in neighbourhood kitchens, where healthy food is already being used as a tool for building community and well-being.

two volunteers in a church kitchen one is serving soup with a ladel

Not everyone gets to experience the benefits of good food and welcoming kitchens.

To help change this reality, United Way Halifax received an investment of $600,000 from two longstanding partners, BMO and Medavie. Together, we launched the United Way Neighbourhood Kitchen Fund in December 2019

The goal is to improve neighbourhood kitchens, where healthy food is already being used as a tool for building community and well-being. The kitchen projects will result in more dignified spaces and upgraded equipment so that more people can gather, find support, and build skills.

Year 2 Funding Recipients

  • Chebucto Connections
  • East Preston Family Resource Centre
  • Mi’kmaw Native Friendship Society
  • Musquodoboit Valley Family Resource Centre
  • North End Parent Resource Centre
  • Saint Thomas Baptist Church

a community member sits at a table at a Beechville Baptist Church even smiling and holding a coffee mug with a tree design on it

Even small changes can have a big impact

The Beechville Baptist Church kitchen is a space where family, friends, and neighbours gather to connect over the preparation, serving, and eating of a meal. They’d been relying on aging hand-me-down plates, cups, utensils, and cookware – including some items donated 40 years ago!

With a Neighbourhood Kitchen Fund grant, the church purchased 200 new place settings. The way food is presented matters. So, the pattern they chose features the tree of life – a symbol that is central to the church and the strong generational ties in their historic Black Nova Scotian community.

READ THE FULL STORY HERE

New appliances for Hope Blooms

With their Neighbourhood Kitchen Fund grant local youth social enterprise Hope Blooms purchased a stand-up freezer and commercial mixer for their kitchen facility. These investments are increasing food storage and production capacity so that North End Halifax families have greater access and more choice of nutritious and culturally appropriate food.

READ THE FULL STORY HERE

Year 1 Funding Recipients

  • Akoma Family Centre
  • Bayers Westwood Family Resource Centre
  • Beechville Baptist Church
  • Hope Blooms
  • Mi’kmaw Native Friendship Society
  • Musquodoboit Valley Family Resource Centre
  • Old School Community Gathering Place
  • Souls Harbour Rescue Mission
  • St. Paul’s Family Resources Institute
  • The North Grove
two people unveil a poster that reads

A targeted investment

The Neighbourhood Kitchen Fund is just one example of what can happen when your business partners with us. United Way Halifax acts as your charitable advisor, working to align your corporate social responsibility goals with the needs that exist in our community and the solutions that will make a difference.

Get in touch with our team to learn more about making a targeted gift, or contributing to one that already exists like the Neighbourhood Kitchen Fund.