who we are
The WECAN Food Basket Society Believes in Healthy Food for All.
We believe every person has the right to enough nutritious food to live a good and healthy life. WECAN is focused on accommodating people with fixed incomes who are struggling at the end of each month to provide enough healthy food for themselves and their families.
The Bulk Buying program is designed to replenish the refrigerator during the month’s third week when food and funds are in short supply. Orders are prepaid so members need only go to their neighbourhood depot to pick up their order.
How We Started
After speaking with members of the communities where they worked and lived, City of Edmonton Social Workers, Cathy Vereyken and Alecia D’Elia, realized that families and individuals needed a way to ensure that fresh and nutritious food could be available near the end of the month when finances were running low.
From this small grassroots initiative, the program has grown to include over 20 depots in Edmonton and the surrounding area, serving over 500 families today.
Who We Serve
Our members are often on a variety of pensions, disability benefit, or monthly pay periods or those with limited incomes. Food is often the necessity in household budget with the most flexibility, so a prepaid model ensures that it is one of the first monthly expenses, not the last.
20 depots are currently hosted by churches, parent link centers, tenant buildings, community leagues, and daycares throughout Edmonton and the surrounding area.
Our Mission & Vision
WECAN Food Basket Society provides the opportunity to purchase nutritious food at an affordable price. Together, We can ALL eat!
Our Belief
WECAN Food Basket Society provides the opportunity to purchase nutritious food at an affordable price.
What we Do
Our Goals
Provide families and individuals with quality food at reduced prices.
Create a network of community-based depots to provide easy access for our members.
Operate on the principles of co-operation, participation, and self-management.
Reach out to families and individuals to help them access our program.
Ensure that the administrative costs are kept to a minimum by operating through a model of simplicity and efficiency.
Promote and support healthy eating by working with communities to increase their capacity to access nutritious, and affordable foods.
Build social networks and provide opportunities to enhance knowledge of healthy eating habits.
WECAN Board of Directors & Staff
Executive Directors
Jennifer Scherer – Chair
Christine McVea – Vice Chair
Courtney Gouthro – Secretary
Raheela Ghaznavi – Treasurer
Directors
Carol Reid
Keith Kasha
Dana Davies
Jessica Odyjewski
Jyening Rose
Eliza Odyjewski
Mildred Ncube
Moush John
Staff
Joshua Topliffe – Program Manager
Mariam Jamaly – Administrator