The first round of 300 LITE hampers for the year went out last week, through the Good Food Club at West Broadway Community Organization.
A few years ago, conversations with our partner organizations revealed an important gap: while the holiday season sees an outpouring of support, that help often fades once the new year arrives. But food security is a critical need that doesn’t end with the holidays, especially after the financial strain they can bring. This realization drove us to push our hamper program into the new year, ensuring families continue to receive support when they need it most.
All hampers provide much-needed support for Winnipeg families, offering food and gifts to help them through the cold months. The LITE hamper stands out by going a step further— we prioritize social purchasing, working with our partner organizations, social enterprises and local businesses whenever possible. This year, we invested over $21,000 in local purchases from:
- Acorn Family Place
- The Cutting Edge
- Fireweed Food Co-op
- Food Fare
- The Indigenous Woman’s Healing Centre
- Marymound
- Spence Neighborhood Association
By supporting these organizations, we’re not just providing essential items; we are creating work and investing in the future of our city by keeping money within our communities. By doing the work through the Good Food Club, 8 participants from their programs were paid to help with packing and distributing the hampers.
Want to support our next round of hampers?
Looking for more ways to help?
Support our Social Enterprise: Every purchase from the LITE Shop helps fuel job creation and community empowerment.
Get Involved: Visit www.lite.mb.ca/ to learn how you can support this important work, and help make our city a place where everyone can thrive.
Good Food Club workers taking a coffee break during hamper packing.