World Food Day 2012 in Newfoundland and Labrador

The Food Security Network NL (FSN) is recruiting partners for World Food Day 2012 in Newfoundland and Labrador! Every year FSN observes World Food Day (October 16^th) by hosting an event in St. John’s, and by partnering with groups across the province, including community gardens, farmers’ markets, local food and food advocacy groups, etc. to host community meals, harvest celebrations, film screenings, and more.

World Food Day is an internationally observed day to heighten public awareness of the problem of hunger in the world, among other goals. The 2012 theme set by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) is “Agricultural cooperatives – key to feeding the world”.

A World Food Day event can be as small or large as you’d like and could be organized as a fundraiser to support your organization or a local charity. Events could include a workshop, fundraising bake sale, or local food challenge, as long as it highlights World Food Day and draws attention to the work that you are doing to improve food security in your community.

This year FSN will be hosting its annual movie and local food meal event in St. John’s on Friday, October 19th. The event will feature a fisheries themed film, which will be available to other groups interested in screening a film.

Ideas for World Food Day events:

1. Host a film screening about the food system. FSN has copies and screening rights to several documentaries about the food system available to members.
2. Host a workshop using the Root Cellars Rock Food Skills Workshops on one of eight topics.
3. Host a community meal, potluck, bake sale, or harvest party. Consider highlighting local food.
4. Add a table to your pre-existing event where people can make donations to a local food bank or other food related charity.

In previous years there have been as many as 7 communities in the province hosting World Food Day events. FSN would love to top that this year! FSN can offer support with promotion and by providing resources to groups that decide to host a workshop or screen a film. Contact Rick Kelly at richardkelly@foodsecuritynews.com or 709-237-4026 if you are interested in being part of World Food Day 2012 in Newfoundland and Labrador.