4. Food Stash

Project Description

Note: This project will take place Online and in person

Context/Background

The Rescued Food Market at Food Stash is a low barrier market that provides affordable access to healthy perishable food (fruit, veggies, dairy, protein) to 125 food insecure members weekly. The market serves the dual purpose of getting food onto the tables of those who need it the most, while combating the environmental challenge of food waste.

Rescued Food is surplus food discarded by suppliers (grocery stores, wholesalers, farms) for a variety of reasons including: imperfections, overstocking, and approaching the best-before date. However, it is still edible, healthy, and quality food!

The goal of the LFS 350 project is to help Food Stash develop a feedback survey to better understand market goers' experiences. LFS350 students would be encouraged to spend some time at the market to understand market operations and the demographic we serve.

Food Systems Issue(s) Addressed in this Project

• Understanding the market experiences of market goers at the Rescued Food Market
• Helping to enhance a program that combats food waste while improving food access to people experiencing food insecurity.

Main Project Activities

• Develop a market feedback survey
• Volunteer at the Rescued Food Market to understand the program

If time permits:

• Students can join in the market and help administer the survey

Main Project Deliverable(s)

• 1 survey that can be re-used to understand market goers experiences
  • If students are able to translate the survey, especially into Ukrainian and Traditional Chinese, that would be ideal but not required
• Hardcopy version of survey + online version with QR code

Student Assets and Skills (preferred or required)

• Compassionate responses when working with people experiencing food insecurity
• Understanding of trauma-informed practice and its relevance to food security programming
• Strong interpersonal skills (e.g. friendliness and empathy!)
• Ability to lift heavy boxes (up to 50lbs) - for market volunteering
• Cultural competence and comfortable in multicultural settings

• Experience designing or implementing surveys (preferred)
• Language skills in: Cantonese, Ukrainian, or Russian (an asset, not required)

Are there any mandatory attendance dates (e.g. special event)?

• No mandatory attendance dates, but note that the Market runs Thursdays from 3-7 pm with volunteer shifts available on Thursdays from 2-4:30 pm and 5-7 pm.

Is a criminal record search (CRS) required?

• No

How much self-direction is expected from the students?

• Deciding on the project deliverable(s): Led by community partner
• Developing the activity plan and timeline: Mostly led by community partner, with some student input
• Scheduling and initiating the communication plan (e.g. weekly Zoom check-in, biweekly email update, etc.): Mostly led by students, with some community partner input
• Implementing the activity plan (e.g. surveying stakeholder groups): Equal leadership between students and community partner
• Finalizing the deliverable(s): Equal leadership between students and community partner

Related Volunteering/Community Service Opportunities for Students

• Volunteering at the Rescued Food Market. Weekly on Thursdays with volunteer shifts from either 1-4:30 pm or 5-7 pm

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.

• https://www.foodstash.ca/
• Community-Centered Food Support and Care for All: A Convening Report (2021)
• McKnight, John. Asset-Based Community Development: The Essentials (4 page document)

Additional Materials

• Questionnaire Design Tip Sheet (Harvard University Program on Survey Research)
• Kraemer, C. (2020). How to Design Surveys That Students Will Actually Want to Fill Out
• Hecht, A.A. & Neff, R.A. (2019). Food rescue intervention evaluations: A systematic review. https://doi.org/10.3390/su11236718
• Respectful Dialogues Guide (UBC Equity and Inclusion Office)
• "Assessing Community Needs and Resources," Community Tool Box (University of Kansas)
• Resilient Neighbourhoods Toolkit (City of Vancouver)
• What Is Trauma-Informed Practice in Social Work? (2020)