LUSH Valley is raising the roof: Help community food hub purchase upstairs unit to expand operations
Since purchasing our forever home in 2021, LUSH Valley has been rooted in Tin Town, expanding food programs across the Comox Valley and beyond. Now, instead of growing outwards, we are growing upwards!
On April 16th, LUSH obtained an approved offer to purchase 2342A Rosewall Crescent, the residential suite above the existing ground-floor unit.
Over the last 2.5 years, we have transformed our building into a community food hub with a large walk-in cooler and commercial kitchen. Though we have become experts at leveraging resources and improving systems, we are rapidly running out of office, parking, storage and food-processing space on site.
LUSH currently has a permit variance application into the City of Courtenay with plans in place to expand food processing operations on the main floor, and eventually move offices and program equipment upstairs.
In order to take possession in June, LUSH needs to secure $146,000. We are looking to the community to help raise $50,000 by June 17th, 2024.
“We have a unique opportunity to own the entire building in Tin Town, but we have to act fast,” says Executive Director, Maurita Prato. “We know the June deadline creates a tight timeline, but we also know how supportive our community has been and continues to be. Expanding operations would position us to better meet the growing needs for the high-quality food services and food-related education we’re providing locally.”
LUSH Valley works with more than two dozen Comox Valley Farms, 30 community organizations and 20 Comox Valley schools. Additional space will allow us to aggregate, process and distribute more healthy food to community members in need.
To make a contribution to the acquisition of the neighbouring unit, or to help us ‘raise the roof’, please visit lushvalley.org/donate.
