One of the priorities of the Carman Wellness Connections Food Security Working Group is ensuring that local residents have access to nutritious food and the supports they need to thrive. The group brings together community organizations, volunteers, local producers, and residents to identify food-related challenges and explore solutions that strengthen food security throughout our region.
Food security is about more than having enough food today. It also means building a community where people have the knowledge, resources, and opportunities to access healthy food in the long term.
In Carman and area, that work takes many forms. Through partnerships and community initiatives, residents are encouraged to participate in programs such as the local vegetable stands and the “Grow a Row” campaign, which invites gardeners to plant an extra row of produce to share with others in the community. These efforts help increase access to fresh, locally grown food while strengthening neighbour-to-neighbour connections.
Carman Wellness Connections is also partnering with the Manitoba Community Food Currency Program through Direct Farm Manitoba. This innovative initiative helps improve access to fresh, local food for households experiencing food insecurity while supporting Manitoba farmers and local agriculture.
At the same time, community organizations continue to provide important immediate supports. The Carman & Area Food Pantry, operating independently with support from Manitoba Harvest, offers food assistance to individuals and families facing difficult circumstances. Together, these programs create a stronger network of support for residents when they need it most.
FOOD SECURITY STARTS AT HOME
A recently released poverty report from Food Banks Canada offers a mixed picture of life in Canada. While there are signs of progress, the reality is that far too many Canadians continue to struggle with affordability, housing costs, and putting food on the table. Canada received an overall grade of D+ on the report card, while Manitoba earned a C-, one of the highest provincial grades in the country. Yet even here in Manitoba, many residents report that government supports are not keeping pace with the cost of living.
The report highlights a challenge that many communities, including Carman and the surrounding area, are seeing firsthand: food insecurity remains a growing concern. Nationally, approximately 24% of Canadians lived in a food-insecure household in 2025, representing nearly 9.8 million people, including 2.4 million children.
While these numbers can feel overwhelming, they also reinforce the importance of the work happening right here in our community.
FOOD INSECURITY DOESN’T LOOK THE SAME FOR EVERYONE
One of the important messages emerging from recent poverty and food insecurity reports is that the people struggling are not always who we might expect.
Food insecurity affects seniors on fixed incomes, families with children, people living with disabilities, individuals working multiple part-time jobs, and even people who are employed full-time. Rising housing costs, transportation expenses, and grocery prices continue to place pressure on household budgets across the country.
For many, accessing emergency food support is not a long-term solution, but rather a temporary resource during a challenging season of life. That is why communities must continue working toward both immediate assistance and long-term food security solutions.
WORKING TOGETHER FOR A STRONGER COMMUNITY
Food security is more than emergency food assistance. It is about building a community where everyone has the opportunity to access healthy food, maintain dignity, and thrive.
Through the Food Security Working Group, Carman Wellness Connections continues to support initiatives, partnerships, and conversations that address both the immediate and underlying causes of food insecurity. In the months ahead, the group hopes to further build community capacity through practical food skills workshops focused on topics such as freezing vegetables, making jam, and preparing affordable pantry staples like soup and pancake mixes.
These types of initiatives complement the work of organizations providing direct food assistance while helping individuals and families develop skills and confidence that can support long-term food security.
As national reports continue to highlight the challenges facing Canadians, they also remind us that local action matters. Every volunteer hour, every donation, every community partnership, and every act of kindness helps strengthen the safety net that supports our neighbours when they need it most.
Together, we can continue building a healthier, more food-secure community for everyone.