As we increase our capacity over time, I Can for Kids (iCAN) aims to expand our grocery gift card program by partnering with more and more frontline agencies from our long (and growing) wait list. We consult potential partners to identify whether their services will enhance our impact and diversify the range of wraparound supports that food-insecure kids and families can access. Together, we examine how our partnership could optimize our collective ability to:
- expand geographical, social, and cultural reach to a greater number of at-risk populations who currently experience less exposure to our grocery gift card program
- offer unique services that address one or more of the common struggles related to food insecurity and inadequate income, such as resettlement, disability, unstable housing, unemployment, isolation, mental health concerns, physical injury, and medical problems
- target our program to a wide variety of households at highest risk of food insecurity
Our current network of agency partners targets iCAN grocery gift cards to children and families participating in 54 unique programs and services across the city. This approach enables us to target our support to households in greatest need while they also gain access to a wide range of additional services. Based on our most recent evaluation, we know that our recipients also benefit from the following types of support:
- parenting and family groups
- health and counselling services
- Indigenous well-being programs
- housing and shelter assistance
- student aid for low-income parents in university
- immigrant and refugee programs
- gang prevention and intervention for youth
- school, church, and youth programs
- protection and recovery from domestic violence
- financial resilience and tax assistance
- peer-to-peer mentorship
Research shows that the income-based nature of our program optimizes dignity and enables agencies to establish more trusting relationships with parents. These two advantages encourage and facilitate more candid conversations about finding strategies and solutions to address the financial struggles that lead to a lack of healthy food and a host of other major setbacks. We’d like to share recent messages that we’ve received from two agency partners who offer support to a wide range of families through very different types of programming:
- “Grocery gift cards empower families to make nutritious food choices. They address an immediate need in times of crisis to help families move forward. Adults in the home feel supported and understood so they can build trust with our organization. Clients often express how the gift cards lift a weight off their shoulders. New clients often initially connect with us due to unforeseen financial crises. Being able to help them with food insecurity enables us to start working on the deeper issues to stabilize the situation and then move forward with long-term financial goals.” Melody Lemay, RISE Calgary
- “The I Can for Kids program provides our staff with an effective tool to reach and support families in the most need. It also gives us the ability to provide more intentional support related to promoting long-term food security and food skills. This program is also a valuable tool in combating childhood food insecurity for families recovering from experiences of domestic violence.” Nicole Heslin, Heart Home Network
When you donate today, you enable us to amplify our program and reach a greater number of food-insecure children and families in Calgary who also need support for a range of other complex life challenges.
To join iCAN’s expanding list of donors, sponsors, and champions, check out the different ways you can get involved or donate.
To learn more about I Can for Kids and their unique approach to childhood food insecurity, visit www.icanforkids.ca
About Donald Barker
Donald Barker has worked as a registered dietitian for more than 25 years. He also has a professional background in communications and has long advocated for populations who face adverse, unjust, or systemic barriers that lead to higher rates of poor social, mental, emotional, and physical health outcomes. Donald currently volunteers as an Advisor with iCAN to support our transition towards evidence-based approaches that help improve the well-being of children in Calgary who live in low-income and food-insecure households.
About I Can for Kids Foundation
I Can for Kids works closely with multiple agency partners to target and distribute grocery gift cards to food-insecure families who are most in need. The iCAN grocery gift card program is a more dignified and inclusive approach to dealing with food insecurity, allowing families to shop where everyone else shops and to choose foods that are appropriate for their health and cultural needs. Explore their website to discover more about iCAN’s impact over the years.
For more information and media inquiries, please contact iCAN Executive Director, Bobbi Turko at bobbi@icanforkids.ca.
