Nourishing Northumberland: Addressing Food Insecurity Together

In Northumberland County, food insecurity affects 10.9% of households. Families face difficult choices every day — from not having enough to eat to worrying about how long their groceries will last.

Since December 2020, Northumberland United Way (NUW) has been at the forefront of local food security efforts through Northumberland Eats. What began as an urgent COVID-response program has grown into a long-term, community-driven initiative focused on meeting immediate needs while addressing the root causes of hunger.

Guided by community feedback and frontline partners, Northumberland Eats now includes five grant streams that work together to build a stronger, more resilient local food system:

• Feed: Supporting community meal programs

• Grow: Funding Farm-to-Table initiatives

• Seed: Piloting innovative ideas from current food providers

• Thrive: Sustaining existing, successful food security projects

• Learn: Educating about food production, nutrition, and self-sustainability

In December 2024, Northumberland Eats provided targeted funding to 24 local organizations — including food banks, community kitchens, churches hosting communal dinners, and neighbourhood groups — to ensure that individuals and families facing hardship had access to fresh food and warm, nourishing meals during the holiday season.

This past year also marked the launch of our first Bite Back Supper Club, a four-night fundraising event at Pomona Ristorante that brought the community together and raised vital dollars to help combat food insecurity. Funds raised through Bite Back directly support the next wave of Northumberland Eats programming.

Together with donors, partners, farmers, and community organizations, we are building a stronger, hunger-free Northumberland.

Join us. Your support today helps nourish families tomorrow.