Growing Georgian receives funding from Chartwells and Coca-Cola

May 24, 2018

In 2017, the Georgian College Students’ Association, led by then-president Avery Konda, launched the Growing Georgian campus garden project. A six-month co-op position was created and a student was hired to co-ordinate the project. Thanks to financial assistance from Chartwells, the college food service provider, in partnership with Coca-Cola, Growing Georgian will have a funded co-op position for its second year of operation through the summer.

Funded by Chartwells through its Chartwells Campus Projects Fund and community donors, the garden became a reality last year through the efforts of a team of college staff and students and a number of community partners. The project has evolved into Growing Campuses that assists other Canadian colleges and universities in developing community gardens and solutions to help students facing food insecurity. Growing Campuses is currently going through incorporation to become a registered non-profit.

“Growing Georgian was a pilot at the college that became a smashing success with the support of Georgian senior leaders, staff, faculty, and external community members and businesses,” says Konda. “Without their support, we wouldn’t have had such a successful pilot year. To continue this success and assistance to students, Growing Campuses was founded to continue assisting students throughout Ontario and Canada.”

Food grown in the Georgian garden is distributed to students in need of perishable, nutritious foods through an on-campus food bank called the Food Locker. Students in the college’s culinary programs process the vegetables, herbs and fruit.

“At Chartwells, we believe in collaboration and strive to be a thought partner with our students and clients,” says Ashton Sequeira, President, Chartwells. “We are so inspired by the active role our students are taking in shaping the future of food. Food is critical in enhancing student life on campus; our ability to support opportunities that engage students to become leaders and change agents motivates all of us to do more for the sustainable footprint we leave behind.”

Michelle Inch from Coca-Cola said their organization was thrilled to partner on the project for another year.

“At Coca-Cola we have an opportunity to support our partners and customers in the development of practical sustainable solutions that build communities and explore concepts that make an impact today,” says Inch. “Being able to contribute to student experience through applied learning as part of the Growing Georgian co-op position is a small act that launches great positive feedback beyond the garden.”