Qajuqturvik Community Food Centre Recipient of $500,000 USD Grant from Citi Foundation

50 organizations globally have been granted a complete of $25 million to pilot or increase catalytic options to enhance meals safety and strengthen the monetary well being of low-income households and communities globally.

IQALUIT, NU, Sept. 25, 2023 /CNW/ – Citi Basis introduced the 50 grant recipients of its first-ever International Innovation Problem at present, which incorporates one Canadian finalist: Qajuqturvik Group Meals Centre (QCFC). The QCFC grant utility was considered one of over 1,000 submissions from organizations in additional than 80 international locations.

Qajuqturvik Group Meals Centre emblem (CNW Group/CITIBANK CANADA)

“Qajuqturvik serves near 500 meals day by day for lunch, and that quantity is just rising with inflation and post-pandemic impacts,” says Rachel Blais, Govt Director of Qajuqturvik Group Meals Centre. “This grant will help QCFC as we try to deal with rising meals insecurity charges by creating new sources of excellent, reasonably priced meals for Iqalummiut and supporting extra hunters throughout Nunavut.”

Every grantee will obtain $500,000 USD over two years to help programming throughout 4 key areas: meals entry, availability, affordability and neighborhood resilience. QCFC will use their grant to open a Nation Meals and Bulk Meals grocery retailer. The shop will function on a Feed It Ahead – Pay What You Can foundation, with lowered pricing for neighborhood members who’re meals insecure and/or can not afford full retail costs.

“Qajuqturvik Group Meals Centre’s plans for the Nation Meals and Bulk Meals grocery retailer is rooted in meals sovereignty and the preservation and schooling of Indigenous meals gathering practices, which formed a compelling utility,” stated Samira Rehman, Vice President of Communications & Group Improvement, Citi Canada. “We’re honoured to companion with them to assist construct the capability for dignified entry to protected and nutritious meals in Nunavut.”

Shortly earlier than the COVID-19 disaster, 57% of households in Nunavut skilled meals insecurity, greater than another jurisdiction in Canada.1  In 2020, 46.1% of individuals in Nunavut lived in average or severely food-insecure households; virtually 1 / 4 (23.3%) of individuals lived in a severely food-insecure family in 2020. 2

“Over our lengthy historical past, Citi and the Citi Basis have assisted numerous organizations to handle and enhance the challenges going through communities all over the world.  Qajuqturvik Group Meals Centre’s trusted insights on the meals disaster in Nunavut, connections within the communities they serve and clear element about infrastructure wanted to satisfy wants, makes them the best-equipped to create significant affect with this grant,” stated John Hastings, CEO of Citibank Canada. “We sit up for working with them to deliver this innovation to completion.”

Over the course of the initiative, grantees may have entry to technical help and a studying neighborhood designed by IDEO.org, a non-profit design studio. By these wrap-around providers, grantees may have the chance to collaborate, share classes realized and trade greatest practices.

For a whole listing of grant recipients, please go to citifoundation.com/problem.

About Qajuqturvik Group Meals Centre

Qajuqturvik Group Meals Centre is a hub of meals tradition in Iqaluit. By our charitable work, we goal to construct neighborhood, meals abilities, and consciousness.

Imaginative and prescient: meals sovereignty and safety for Nunavummiut. 
Mission: We attempt to strengthen well being, belonging, and meals sovereignty in Iqaluit by using the facility of meals, custom, and neighborhood

Extra info could also be discovered at www.qajuqturvik.ca, Twitter: @Qajuqturvik, Instagram: @qajuqturvik, Fb: @Qajuqturvik Group Meals Centre

In regards to the International Innovation Problem

The International Innovation Problem is a brand new mannequin to establish and supply philanthropic help to neighborhood organizations which can be creating progressive options to social and financial challenges going through low-income communities.

About Citi Basis

The Citi Basis works to advertise financial progress and enhance the lives of individuals in low-income communities all over the world. We put money into efforts that enhance monetary inclusion, catalyze job alternatives for youth, and reimagine approaches to constructing economically vibrant communities. The Citi Basis’s “Greater than Philanthropy” method leverages the big experience of Citi and its folks to meet our mission and drive thought management and innovation. For extra info, go to www.citifoundation.com.

About Citi

Citi is a preeminent banking companion for establishments with cross-border wants, a worldwide chief in wealth administration and a valued private financial institution in its house market of america. Citi does enterprise in almost 160 international locations and jurisdictions, offering firms, governments, buyers, establishments and people with a broad vary of economic services and products. In Canada, Citi serves its shoppers via its places of work in Toronto, Mississauga, Montreal, Calgary and Vancouver.

Extra info could also be discovered at www.citigroup.com, Twitter: @Citi, LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/firm/citi, YouTube: www.youtube.com/citi, Fb: www.fb.com/citi 

SOURCE CITIBANK CANADA

For additional info: Citi Canada Media Contact: Shawna Van Esch, 416-947-5741,