Project Title
Bulk Buying Club - Impact Assessment and Cost Analysis
Organization Name
Organization Information
Organization Name
Mission and Vision of Organization
Archway Community Services fosters community well-being and social justice through positive action and leadership. Justice, opportunities and equitable access for all.
Guiding Principles + Values
- Inclusivity – We welcome everyone, showing consideration and respect for all experiences and ideas
- Compassion – We empower others, and defend and advocate for human dignity.
- Excellence – We never stop learning and improving. We pursue our vision with determination, ethics, and heart.
Contact Information
- Primary Contact Person(s): Vicki Lin, she/her
- Email: vicki.lin@archway.ca
- Phone: 236-339-0546
- Address: 33914 Essendene Avenue
- Website: https://archway.ca/
Preferred Method of Contact
- Best method(s) to contact: Email
- Best day(s) to contact: Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, Fridays
- Best time(s) to contact: Afternoons
Preferred Platform(s) for Remote Collaboration
- Email, Phone, Zoom
Project Description
Note: This project will take place online and in person
Context: What challenge or issue does the project aim to address?
Collaborating with various partners, the Food Justice program explores food justice and food sovereignty in action. We are working to strengthen the local food system, to identify gaps in services, and to provide access to nutritious food for all community members. Collectively, we are developing the Fraser Valley Food Connection (FVFC), a network of food system players that share a unified goal of building a community centered around food. The FVFC will operate out of a central location that will host community-led food programming and will bring people together in an inviting, inclusive and inspiring environment. Our hope is to support community empowerment through skill building, education, and knowledge-sharing programs.
At the Fraser Valley Food Connection, you come to Eat, Grow, Share and Connect. The first service of the Food Justice program is the Bulk Buy Collective. Those who participate in the Collective get access to fresh produce at wholesale prices through shared purchasing power. The Bulk Buy Collective began in June 2021, and as of October 2021 there are are 369 individuals, including 176 children over 100 households, who benefit from this shared purchasing power.
Main Project Activities and Deliverables
Archway Community Services is looking for a better understanding of the impact of our Bulk Buying Collective, and whether it is meeting the food needs and interests of our current (and potential) members. Just as we have adapted our food bank distribution baskets to include South Asian-friendly and halal options (and would love to develop additional culturally relevant basket options), we see the opportunity for our Bulk Buying Collective to better serve the diverse range of food needs and interests in our community.
LFS 350 students can help us develop an evaluation plan so we can understand our impact, and identify opportunities for us to improve the Bulk Buy Collective, perhaps including the procurement of culturally diverse food items. We know there are other potential adjustments that are not currently on our radar, and welcome the opportunity to grow our understanding from a systematic and evidence-based place.
- Evaluation plan
- Cost-benefit analysis of Bulk Buying Collective: are our procurement and distribution practices as cost-effective as they could be?
Student Assets and Skills (preferred or required)
- interest in evaluation and program development
- interest in community food programming
Are there any mandatory attendance dates (e.g. special event)?
- October 8, 2022 is our next bulk buy distribution day
Is a criminal record search (CRS) required?
- No
How much self-direction is expected from the students?
- Deciding on the project deliverable(s): Mostly led by community partner, with some student input
- Developing the activity plan and timeline: Mostly led by students, with some community partner input
- Scheduling and initiating the communication plan (e.g. weekly Zoom check-in, biweekly email update, etc.): Equal leadership between students and community partner
- Implementing the activity plan (e.g. surveying stakeholder groups): Mostly led by students, with some community partner input
- Finalizing the deliverable(s): Equal leadership between students and community partner
Related Community Service Opportunities for Students
- Visiting our Food Bank, volunteering with us, attending bulk buy distribution day
Required Reading
Project/Partner Orientation Materials
Students should review the following materials prior to the first partner meeting. Additional orientation materials may be provided at the first partner meeting.
- Students should familiarize themselves with the food security work that we do: archway.ca/food and abbotsfordfoodbank.com
- Please review the business case for the FVFC (request document from your TA)
Additional Materials
- Abadia, M.G. & Lin, J. (2009). Nonprofit Cost Analysis Toolkit: Six Steps to Finding the True Costs of Programs
- Britannia Bulk Buying Club/Grandview-Woodland Food Connection
- UBC Equity and Inclusion Office - Activating Inclusion Toolkit
Expected Outcomes
Intended Short-term Project Outcome
Archway Community Services has a more informed understanding of the impact of our Bulk Buying Club, supporting our ability to strengthen our approach to affordable food access
Learning Outcomes
Through this project, I think students will learn about...
- A food justice approach to community food programming Process of evaluation for program development Importance of cultural diversity in community food programming
By working on this project, I think students will develop skills and/or awareness of...
- Food Justice and sovereignty in action
- Evaluation skills
- Cost analysis skills
- Day-to-day program delivery processes
By the end of the project, I believe students will come to appreciate...
- the need for access to affordable and nutritious foods that are culturally appropriate.