Food Security
The CAB is committed to promoting food security and building resilient local food systems in the communities of Sutton and Abercorn by offering a range of services and programs that:
- increase access to healthy food
- reduce food waste
- foster social connections through food
Our food security programs, which reach 10% of the residents of Sutton and Abercorn, help build healthy communities and foster social inclusion.
People experience food insecurity in many different ways depending on their contexts, and rural areas have higher rates of food insecurity.* Through our programs and services, the CAB works to increase access to healthy food in the rural region of Brome-Missisquoi.
* source: Étude PARCOURS par La Chaire de recherche du Canada Approches communautaires et inégalités de santé
Food Bank
The Food Bank provides healthy food assistance to residents of Sutton & Abercorn. This service is free and allows people to select food and hygiene products according to your needs and the size of your household. Donations of non-perishable food items can be dropped off in the box marked "Food Bank" at the IGA in Sutton. Thank you!
Meals on Wheels
Our Meals on Wheels is much more than just a meal! Volunteers deliver a hot lunch right to your door three days a week, with a smile. The service is offered to seniors, people with reduced mobility, and new moms in Sutton and Abercorn. The lunch includes a soup, a main course, and a dessert for $5. Each year, over 1,200 hot meals are delivered with care to community members in Sutton and Abercorn.
Collective Kitchen
The collective kitchen brings people together to cook delicious food and discover new recipes. It’s an opportunity to save on meals, taste new flavours, build food skills, and meet people in your community. The group, made up of 4-6 people, chooses the recipes and prepares the meals together. Are you curious but aren’t sure if you want to participate? Ask to attend to see, smell, and maybe even taste all the good stuff!
Food Rescue Table
Come by our food rescue table every Tuesday to pick up fresh and frozen foods, for free! Each week, we receive donations from local farms, food producers, and community partners to offer healthy, local, and fresh food to residents of Sutton & Abercorn. The food rescue table is an initiative to promote food security, build a healthy community, reduce food waste, and foster a resilient local food system.
The Intergenerational Garden
Since the fall of 2020, a team of CAB volunteer gardeners lead activities with Sutton School students in the Intergenerational Garden. These intergenerational workshops combine gardening skills and sharing knowledge about sustainable food systems and the importance of using recycled materials, thanks in particular to the contribution of volunteers from the Zero Waste group. The students participate in all stages of the school's vegetable garden and they learn about the life cycle of seeds and plants by growing their own seedlings. The younger gardeners plant a variety of vegetables, herbs, and edible flowers and they discover new flavours and foods!
School Snack Program
Each week during the homework assistance program, where over a dozen volunteers offer individualized Homework Assistance for 10-15 students at Sutton Elementary School, students receive a healthy snack to help them stay focused while they learn. The CAB also supports young community members by funding lunches at the school cafeteria for students who require a healthy meal.
Partnerships and Advocacy
In partnership with local organizations, the CAB advocates for healthier and more resilient communities. Our team supports the Sutton Community Fridge, a citizen-led initiative that helps tackle food waste by giving everyone the opportunity to share and access food for free, and sits on the Table to Concertation de sécurité alimentaire de Brome- Missisquoi. We believe that access to healthy food helps build healthy communities.