Preparing for the Challenge

We have signed up for the 5th Annual Welfare Food Challenge to support the work of Raise the Rates, and help highlight the inadequacy of welfare rates in BC. To learn all about the challenge please visit the site  https://welfarefoodchallenge.org

We are starting this blog as a place we can share our experience with our friends, family and any other folks following participants of the challenge.

As a family that has often lived paycheck to paycheck, we have always made food the item we splurge on when we can't afford much else. We love our ability to eat healthy and well while supporting small local businesses and farms, organic and fair trade as much as possible, and we know this is a luxury many can't always support.

This challenge is helping us reinforce our gratitude for the privilege of having supportive community, and full-time work that now pays two of us living wages, so we rarely worry about the cost of our groceries anymore, or when we'll eat.

This Thanksgiving weekend we gathered with family to enjoy a feast with those we love, and feel grateful for the simple abundances in our life.

Beginning on World Food Day, Sunday October 16th, our family of 3 has $54 to cover all of our meals for a week. We've already been researching recipes, and cheapest grocery items within walking distance of home and work, hoping to find the best place to buy all that is on our wish list.

This activity is our first cheat really, because those on welfare, disability or working poor may not be able to browse 3 neighbourhoods around town to get what they need at the lowest price per item, or the ability to continue to eat lots of good food while preparing for a week of struggle.

Guidelines say we need to share our cheats, and when you only have $18 per person it is hard not to try and make it easier, so we aim to be honest about all the ups and downs.

More posts to come from Kathy, Mark and Sasha throughout our final week of preparation, and the Welfare Food Week itself.