The role of community development in addressing food insecurity

Abstract

This report examines the experience of my Advanced Practicum at the London Food Bank (LFB). Community development and food security are two concepts that will be discussed in detail throughout the duration of my report, and were a large focus of the advanced practicum setting. The London Food Bank is located in a low-income neighbourhood, and serves thousands of people who are experiencing poverty and food insecurity each month. Throughout my practicum, I was also able to understand how different social service organizations in London employed food security interventions for their clients who were vulnerable in terms of experiencing food insecurity.

I engaged in community development work at the London Food Bank through helping lead a community garden project called Adopt a Plot/Plant a Row Grow A Row. An overall review of frameworks and theories relevant to community development social work practice addressing food insecurity will also be included. Throughout my advanced practicum, I developed an understanding of how community development can be used as a tool to address food insecurity. A review of literature surrounding food bank models, food security interventions and the ways in which policy can be used as a tool to alleviate food insecurity will also be included in this report. An unfortunate reality exists today even in developed nations such as Canada: many people lack access to a sufficient quantity of affordable, nutritious food. While they are not without critique, food banks certainly play a vital role in addressing food insecurity in Canada.