The Ministry of Health Promotion and Sport provided funding through the Healthy Communities Fund Local Grant for ‘food security communication projects’ planned and implemented collaboratively by the Simcoe County Nutrition Network, Collingwood’s Community Connection and the Simcoe County Food Partners Alliance.

The 211 provincial system provides the public with information about local community, social, health and government programs and services.   Collingwood’s Community Connection provides this valuable integrated telephone and internet-based 211 service in Central East Ontario (dial 2-1-1 or visit website www.InfoSimcoeCounty.ca).  Local community groups are partnering with Community Connection to enhance access to food in Simcoe County’ listings.

One local initiative with 211 Central East/Community Connection is the development of a portal in the 211 on-line directory called “Food in Simcoe County”. This site, to be launched later this year, will provide easy access for health and social services providers and consumers to food security services and initiatives.

MHPS funding also supported this SCNN e—bulletin that is being sent to over 1000 local health and social service organizations providing “how to” information that might benefit their clients.

The Simcoe County Food Partners Alliance also has a new website http://www.fpa.simcoe.ca that will enhance networking around community food security action and provide convenient links to other food security sites. Visit this site to see details of an interesting conference, Food Matters, that was held recently and plans for a county-wide food charter.

For more information contact: Susan Close, Public Health Dietitian susan.close@smdhu.org