Nov 20th, 2024
News Release: Centretown Public Food Pantry Re-opens, Ready to Take a Bite Out of Hunger
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Nov. 20, 2024, OTTAWA, ON – Take what you need, leave what you can. That’s the guiding principle of the Public Foods Pantry and Public Fridge, a vital resource located on the lawn of Ottawa Community Housing’s MacLaren Towers
On Nov. 20, OCH joined residents, volunteers, and partners to celebrate the pantry’s reopening after a fire temporarily closed it in May. This essential community resource provides 24/7 food support to Centretown residents and reflects the power of partnerships in addressing food insecurity.
How It All Began
The Public Foods Pantry was established in 2022 through the efforts of students from Carleton University’s Azrieli School of Architecture, who designed and built the structure after members of the Glebe-St. James United Church identified the need. It was also supported by the Centretown Community Health Centre and the Arlington 5 Café.
Rebuilding Through Community Support
Following the fire, dedicated community volunteers and stakeholders, staff from Carleton University and local contractors Bassi Construction, PuroClean, Xpertek Construction, Imperial Electric, and others from the community have generously helped to keep food donations coming to the community and repair the damage to the structure.
A Community Resource
Located on the front lawn of Ottawa Community Housing’s MacLaren Towers (415 MacLaren), the pantry operates on a simple yet impactful policy: take what you need, leave what you can. It serves as a vital resource for Centretown residents, with many supplies coming from Glebe-St. James United Church.
Quick facts:
Collaborative Partnerships: This project is the first of two partnerships with the Carleton University School of Architecture. The second was an outdoor gym and improvements to the Youth House in Russell Heights.
Addressing Food Insecurity: The average income of OCH residents in Centretown is $1,269 per month – making it increasingly difficult to pay for necessities like food.
Quotes
“The pantry is a thoughtful and innovative solution to food insecurity. The damage to this vital community resource was devastating. However, thanks to stakeholders and community partners, vulnerable residents in Centretown will have the support they need.”
Stéphane Giguère, Chief Executive Officer, OCH
“When you’re worried about not being able to put food on the table, nothing else matters. Thanks to the support of Public Foods, and the others who supported this innovative initiative. This helps address food security and provides access to help with dignity. We are pleased to see the pantry up and running again.”
Brian Gilligan, Chief Community and Tenant Support, OCH
About Ottawa Community Housing
Ottawa Community Housing (OCH) offers approximately 15,000 homes to about 33,000 tenants, including seniors, families, individuals, and people with disabilities. These homes are located in various communities throughout Ottawa and house a diverse population with different languages, cultures, and ethnicities. OCH is Ottawa’s primary community housing provider, managing two-thirds of the city’s housing portfolio and ranking as the second largest in Ontario. In 2024, OCH earned recognition for the seventh consecutive year as one of the National Capital Region’s Top Employers. www.och-lco.ca | X | LinkedIn | Facebook | Instagram
About the Azrieli School of Architecture & Urbanism
The Azrieli School of Architecture & Urbanism at Carleton University delivers education and research in the intersecting fields of architecture, urbanism, and conservation and sustainability. Its undergraduate, professional, and doctoral degree programs enable responsible, visionary citizens with the capacity for innovative work in the built environment at all scales. Through meaningful relationships with the community, the school addresses complex political, economic, and technical questions that inform the production of buildings and cities.
About Public Foods
Public Foods is a volunteer-based grassroots community organization that aims at reducing food waste by redirecting food surplus to the residents of Centretown Ottawa who need it the most.
They have the support of Centretown Churches Social Action Committee (CCSAC), Centretown Community Food Centre (CCFC), Ottawa Community Food Partnership (OCFP), Food Sharing Ottawa, and other like-minded community organizations.
For more information or to schedule an interview, contact:
Jennifer McIntosh
Communications Specialist
613-914-9953