The power of partnership
I started the journey that led me to the OCFP as a bright eyed, 19 year old who wanted to make the world a better place. Social work seemed like the way to go about it, and I started down an education and career path that offered many hours on the front line of fighting poverty. Over the course of the last 20+ years, I have witnessed agencies pitted against each other, competing for a limited pot of money to implement programs that assist people in overcoming the systemic and structural barriers that exclude them from full participation in society. The lack of resources to implement and sustain the programs that are needed for social service agencies to truly impact society is an ongoing issue, but since coming to the OCFP, I have seen how powerful partnership can be to overcoming those issues. The hard, messy, challenging work of partnership is so worth it in the end.
Nurses from Somerset West Community Health Centre putting together meals for seniors
In the course of my work with the OCFP I have been witness to amazing things in the name of partnership. The first time my mind was completely blown, was in the summer of 2019. Five of the partner organizations participated in a strawberry social fundraiser (back in the glorious days of face to face events, and sharing food together). They each sent volunteers to help out at the Ottawa Farmers’ Market, crafting beautiful strawberry shortcakes and giving them out in return for a donation. At the end of the weekend we had raised a little over $8,000, and all nine organizations entered into a conversation of what to do with these newly raised funds. It was quickly decided that we would add to our stock of community fridges. At that point 6 of the partner organizations had community fridges, and a St Joe’s Supper Table had let us know that they had created space for one, and were disappointed to have missed out on the funding that had purchased previous fridges. It amazed me that all organizations were able to see that the benefit of an additional fridge for our community outweighed any benefit of dividing up the money.
As the Covid-19 pandemic struck Ottawa it became obvious that we were going to have to rely on each other to pull through. Over the course of the last 18 months our partnership has grown stronger and we have found more ways to collaborate. When the OCFP Good Food Chauffeurs all had to self isolate at the same time, staff and volunteers from The Well took over some of our food rescue work, and delivered items to agencies that don’t have the capacity to pick up donated items. Recently 4 organizations came together to put in a joint application for outdoor community fridges. When Velma the Veggie Van needed to take a trip to a specialist and have her refrigeration unit replaced, Rideau Rockcliffe Community Resource Centre let us borrow a refrigerated van for 7 weeks while we waited to get her back.
The examples of doing more together are piling up, and it continues to amaze me what we are able to do when we work together. I know that agencies are continuing to feel the pressure of competing for the same funds, and that transition out of siloed thinking will take time and require trust, but I am very encouraged by the changes that I have seen, and am confident that our motto of “nourishing community together” will lead to great things.
Thank you,
Erica Braunovan,
The Ottawa Community Food Partnership Manager
