OSHaRE (Photo by Nathan Shubert)
OSHaRE is launching a new food program space in the new year.
Executive Director Colleen Trask-Seaman says in the first week of January, OSHaRE will be opening the new Family Space in Owen Sound, which expands upon the current Family Program.
“Our Family Program started in June, 2024 and basically, families are referred by local agencies or they can self refer during our family market. They come to OSHaRE and they can pick up boxes of fresh produce, frozen casseroles, and everything that they need to make school lunches from the perishables to the non-perishables to the fresh fruit. Currently we do that out of our office, we now have over 340 families accessing that service, and so it really needed its own space,” says Trask-Seaman.
She says OSHaRE created a space in the old Community Foundation office where people will be able to pick out their desired meals instead of the organization pre-packing a box.
Families wishing to access the service can visit OSHaRE at 946 3rd Avenue East in Owen Sound to register for the program.
“They book an appointment and they show up, they can come weekly if they need to or once a month if they need to, it’s up to them,” says Trask-Seaman. “They will get to pick their produce, pick their school stuff, pick their casseroles, and head on their way. We also help families with milk. Fresh milk is one of our top asked for items and baby formula is the other one.”
The program will be provided for through donations.
“We are just so excited to have it as a place where families can go to access that service and to access that food, but also to connect with our staff on other resources throughout the area that might be able to help them through our partner agencies,” says Trask-Seaman.