The Thunder Bay Good Food Box Program has packed its 100,000th box of fresh fruit and vegetables since the initiative began in 2005, a milestone organisers say underscores the ongoing need for affordable healthy food in the city and district.
Program built around affordability and volunteer power
Administered by the Northwestern Ontario Women’s Centre (NOWC), the monthly Good Food Box offers residents a low-cost option for fresh produce. Each box costs $22 and contains up to a dozen items, according to NOWC materials. The program operates with one paid co‑ordinator and a volunteer team of more than 200, who pack and distribute boxes across Thunder Bay.
Organisers framed the milestone as evidence of both community support and persistent need. The Thunder Bay District Health Unit estimates about 22 per cent of households in the district experience food insecurity, a statistic NOWC leaders cite when planning outreach and distribution.
“We know that the cost of living is increasing while wages and support from government is being either cut or staying the same, and it is not sustainable for families,”
said NOWC executive director Katie Bortolin, reflecting on why the program continues to be essential.
Context: rising costs and falling donations
Local organisers say the Good Food Box has become more important as the cost of living climbs and donations to local food banks decline. NOWC staff and volunteers attempt to reach people on fixed incomes, those with low incomes and residents who are working but still living paycheque to paycheque.
- Launch year: 2005
- Total boxes packed: 100,000
- Cost per box: $22
- Volunteer force: 200+
- Household food insecurity (TBDHU): 22%
How the program fits into local food supports
The Good Food Box is one element of Thunder Bay’s broader food-security landscape that includes food banks, community kitchens and other non-profit initiatives. NOWC leaders emphasise that the program is designed to be quick to respond and flexible, aiming to supplement rather than replace existing services.
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Boxes packed since 2005 | 100,000 |
| Typical contents | Up to a dozen fruit and vegetable items |
| Program staffing | 1 co‑ordinator + >200 volunteers |
Program co-ordinators and volunteers say demand has shifted in recent years, with more people seeking assistance who would previously have relied on their own budgets. The combination of inflationary pressure and constrained public supports has left gaps community groups are working to fill.
NOWC leaders also say the Good Food Box helps improve access to fresh produce in neighbourhoods without a full-service grocery store, while offering predictable pricing for households trying to manage tight budgets.
As the program marks its 100,000th box, organisers are calling for continued community support—both through volunteering and donations—to maintain distribution and keep prices low. They stress that sustaining services like the Good Food Box will be important if food-bank donations continue to decline and living costs keep rising.
The milestone is a reminder of the role community-run programs play in Thunder Bay's social safety net and the ongoing challenge of ensuring reliable access to healthy food for vulnerable households.
