In recent months, many people across the world have experienced the unexpected hardships brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic. Fortunately, there are support groups working tirelessly to help people through these hard times. DP World recognizes those who give back to the community, especially when people need it most. Harvest Project is one organization that focuses their efforts in reaching out to those in need, providing resources to them, and impacting lives.
What is Harvest Project All About?
Harvest Project began in 1993 as a community-based urban relief program. Today, the organization serves Vancouver’s North Shore area by ‘extending a hand up’ to those in need. Their goal is to make the North Shore an inclusive, healthy, and diverse community.
With the North Shore being one of the wealthiest regions in all of Canada, many might be surprised to hear that one in five families in the North Shore area are led by a single parent. These thousands of people, in addition to immigrants and the elderly, often face economic hardships and risk losing access to important resources.
Today, the Vancouver charity connects with over 1,000 people every month. These connections include: one-on-one coaching, emergency visits, grocery and clothing support appointments, retail thrift shoppers, and volunteers and donors in all corners of the North Shore.
Harvest Project’s Response to COVID-19
Given the hands-on nature of Harvest Project’s efforts, COVID-19 posed an issue. To protect volunteers and members of the community, the Vancouver charity paused its plans for further hands-on work. Instead, they pivoted.
With their quick response, Harvest Project was able to implement safe services without losing a day of work in the process. Thanks to this enormous effort, those in need have been able to continue getting assistance from Harvest Project with no interruptions.
One way in which the organization adapted was by turning their in-person grocery program into a virtual offering. Using their resources and funds, Harvest Project now partners with grocery retailers to purchase gift cards and distribute them to families in the North Shore area so that they have a reliable source of food throughout this global crisis.
Another way that Harvest Project has transitioned their services to a COVID-friendly environment is by making their one-on-one coaching sessions virtual. Client care managers have been equipped with all the remote work tools necessary to continue having important conversations with people about their lives. This is especially important now, as this human contact is a crucial resource for many.
Addressing the Uncertainty
One common theme the Harvest Project team has seen in their North Shore community is a sense of uncertainty. Many community members are unsure about their immediate future, including food resources, job viability, and more.
To address this uncertainty, Harvest Project is continuing to be a food resource, as well as helping people check on job applications through internet resources, find job opportunities, find child care, and much more. The effort to provide tangible results has had a positive impact in getting North Shore citizens the resources they need during this time.
The uncertainty didn’t just come from the outside; volunteers felt it as well. In normal conditions, Harvest Project sees around 150 volunteers in-person each week. With COVID-19, that has dropped to zero. However, despite this, Harvest Project makes an effort to keep volunteers updated about what’s going on in the organization and how they can still help. In fact, many volunteers have continued to provide donations and resources. Although this is a challenging time, people have banded together to help out their community.
How Can You Help?
Any Vancouver business or organization wanting to get involved with Harvest project can do so by supporting the grocery program through upcoming campaigns. Businesses can also host a matching fundraising campaign, where community donations are matched by the company, doubling the amount raised.
Companies looking to get involved can also share stories about Harvest Project’s efforts and their life-changing impact on community members in need. For more information, businesses can visit the Harvest Project website, as well as follow them on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and LinkedIn for updates on what’s going on and new opportunities.