“Nutritious meal preparation is an excellent transferrable skill to learn,” said Comox Valley MLA Don McRae. “Not only will MHAS clients learn to further their independence, but they will feel a sense of accomplishment having helped provide affordable meals for others.”
Called the Peppermill Program, the Vancouver Island Health Authority, Vancouver Foundation and the Canadian Mental Health Association – Mid Island Branch, have teamed up to assist VIHA MHAS clients in the Comox Valley in learning the skills necessary to prepare nutritious and tasty meals. These meals are then frozen, and sold to MHAS clients at a low cost per meal.
"Often when people are living with a mental illness their physical health also suffers,” said Christina Martens, Executive Director, Canadian Mental Health Association Mid-Island Branch. “Nutritional meals, such as those provided by the Peppermill, go a long way in preventing physical health deterioration and allow people to concentrate on regaining their mental health.”
Vancouver Foundation provided a $72,000 operating grant while VIHA and the CMHA Mid Island Branch provide staff, including a program coordinator, an occupational therapist and a rehabilitation worker. The program operates from a commercial kitchen owned by the local Lush Valley Food Security Society that supports food-related projects in the Comox Valley that encourage and empower people towards personal wellness.
“Our donors are interested in addressing community challenges in a way that provides more long-term benefits,” said Faye Wightman, president and CEO of Vancouver Foundation. By teaching some people how to prepare meals, and by providing others with inexpensive meals, this program addresses both the short-term and long-term need for affordable and nutritious food.”
Launched in March, five clients are currently enrolled in the program that teaches food preparation, cooking and food safety skills. Clients also learn about nutrition and healthy food choices, and complete WHMIS and FoodSafe courses as part of their training. Additional clients will be enrolled in the months ahead with a graduation at the end of the year for all who participate.
“All of our trainees have expressed how proud they are of what they are accomplishing at Peppermill,” said April Bond, coordinator of the program. “Some trainees even took photos of their first meals to show them off to their friends and families. Projects like this are wise investments - it means we are assisting others to empower themselves.”
MHAS clients in the Comox Valley can also purchase up to three meals each week at a cost of $2.50 per meal. Tasty selections range from butter chicken, beef stroganoff and chicken a l’orange to poached wild pink salmon, eggplant parmesan and pork fried rice. Currently Peppermill has about 40 customers.
“Many MHAS clients are on low incomes so programs like Peppermill go a long way in ensuring their nutritional needs can be met at a low cost,” said John Fitzgerald, VIHA’s Manager, Mental Health and Addictions, North Island.
For some clients who enroll in the program the benefits go beyond learning how to safely prepare nutritious meals. Several clients have already found employment at local businesses.
“Peppermill provides a real-world training opportunity for people who have come out the other side of a mental health struggle and who are now looking at returning to, or entering, the workforce,” said Martens. “Really, it is a win-win situation."
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Media Contacts:
Valerie Wilson
VIHA Communications
250-739-6303
Christina Martens
Executive Director
CMHA –Mid Island Branch
250-244-4042
Catherine Clement
VP Communications
Vancouver Foundation
604-629-5184