GUYSBOROUGH — A recently launched food security program, with plenty of help from a lot of volunteers, spread Christmas cheer to hundreds of people a few days before Santa made his seasonal rounds.
“We had a truly fantastic event,” Rhonda Procure, community manager in Guysborough for Square Roots, said of the free holiday market it hosted Dec. 21.
As its website (squarerootssmu.ca) describes, Square Roots is “dedicated to increasing food security … by providing set-to-be-wasted, low-cost produce to communities around Nova Scotia.”
Noting that the community organization “gave away” 230 bags of fruits and vegetables, Procure said the market brought “joy and relief to many during the holidays.”
She praised the generosity of Blake Myatt, who provided “one of the largest donations and delivered 50 bags to the Canso area.” Because of his kindness, Procure added, “Many families were blessed,” with some of the produce packages going to a local church for Christmas food hampers, while Myatt and his family distributed others “directly to the community.”
It was the second bi-weekly produce market that Square Roots – under Procure’s local leadership – hosted in Guysborough. At the inaugural one, more than 500 pounds of food were distributed, with consumers paying much less than they would at the grocery store. The goal is to keep the price tag in the $1-per-pound range. For the Dec. 21 market, there was no charge because of funding support the Guysborough branch of the organization received to cover costs.
“The community’s gratitude was overwhelming, and the day had a wonderful old-fashioned community feel; from volunteers chatting as they packed bags to recipients stopping by for friendly conversations, it was a day filled with connection, kindness and holiday cheer,” Procure told The Journal in an email.
Community members are reminded to watch for the dates of upcoming bi-weekly produce markets, which are open to everyone and will be posted on the Square Roots Guysborough Facebook page, along with an online order form.
