Photos: Silvet Ali
Relais Communautaire de Laval serves as a food bank and is located
at 111 Laurentides Blvd in Pont-Viau.

Le Centre de bénévolat de Laval hosted the official launch of Laval’s Good Food Box program on Tuesday, October 13 which will provide fresh fruits and vegetables at affordable prices directly to neighbourhoods across the city.
The intent of the program is to allow residents to have access to a variety of fresh products at low costs by working in collaboration with Quebec farmers to purchase produce in large amounts and reselling it throughout local communities.

How it works
Every two weeks, those who sign-up for Bonne Boîte, Bonne Bouffe will be able to pick up a reusable box of fresh fruits and veggies from the nearest pick-up point. Three sizes will be available for purchase: small for $7, medium for $10, and large for $16 and each box contain a variety of in-season produce, nutritional information, and tips and recipes for easy meal ideas. Savings come out to about 30-50% less than grocery store prices and customers are not required to make a purchase every two weeks.
In Laval, an estimated 36 000 people worry about not having enough to eat and every month, more than 23 000 lack food due to financial difficulties. The program in Laval was funded in part by the Direction de santé publique de Laval (DSP) and director Dr. Nicole Damestoy believes it is a healthy alternative for individuals and families. “Poverty exists in Laval,” stated Dr. Damestoy. “We know good health comes from healthy life choices and this is a very promising program. Fast food is prevalent and considered cheap but with Bonne Boîte, Bonne Bouffe, having access to nutritious fruits and vegetables at a good price will be an incentive to eat well.”
The program was funded by the DSP Laval in collaboration with Centraide of Greater Montreal and will compliment other services already offered in the region such as collective gardens and kitchens. The DSP Laval invested $50 0000 to the launch of Bonne Boîte, Bonne Bouffe and $25 000 came from Centraide.

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1: Laval municipal councillor for Sainte-Rose Denis Robillard
2: Direction de santé publique de Laval director Dr. Nicole Damestoy
3: Centraide Greater Montreal president and director-general Michèle Thibodeau-DeGuire
4: Karine Legris of Centre de bénévolat de Laval explains the Bonne Boîte, Bonne Bouffe program

Good Food Box
Known as the Bonne Boîte, Bonne Bouffe in Laval, the initiative was first inspired by a similar endeavour in Toronto called the Good Food Box. In January 1994, non-profit group FoodShare Toronto launched the Good Food Box program in their basement to help needy people have access to fresh produce. By 2003, the program in Toronto grew to distribute 4000 boxes every month from over 200 pick-up points across the city.
Now with the recession and troubled economy, programs such as these are being encouraged because it not only provides a healthy alternative in a society where childhood obesity is rising, but gives the local economy a boost as well. “When I think about all the people swimming in debt, at one point we realize that it is a society problem,” stated Centraide Greater Montreal president Michèle Thibodeau-DeGuire. “We must ensure people can maintain a sense of dignity in this environment and provide means to help them get back on their feet. A project like this ensures access to healthy nutritious foods during periods of difficulty.”

Over the summer, the program was on a trial basis in Laval and is now officially expanding due to its success. Organizers also need more pick-up points which include local schools, community centres, and residences and volunteers are welcome. The pick-up point is a spot where those who sign-up for the program will get their boxes, place orders, and accept delivery and there are currently ten pick-up points across the city like the L’Entraide Pont-Viau et Laval-des-Rapides, Relais Communautaire de Laval, and La Maison de quartier de Fabreville. Le Centre de bénévolat de Laval is the body responsible for logistics, coordinating, and the distribution of the boxes twice a month across the Laval region.
For more information, to sign-up, or to find out the nearest pick-up point location, call (450) 681-6164.