Evaluation of Yarmouth Collaborative Food Network Program

The Yarmouth Collaborative Food Network (CFN) is a growing partnership working to reduce food insecurity and strengthen community well-being across the Town of Yarmouth, surrounding rural areas, and nearby First Nations communities. Coordinated by Parents’ Place, the CFN brings together local organizations, volunteers, schools, municipalities, and the Acts of Kindness Society (AOK) to deliver accessible, dignity-focused food supports to residents.

As part of the network, Parents’ Place delivers a wide range of volunteer-driven food programs that play a central role in meeting urgent needs. This includes a weekly community meal program that provides approximately 700 meals every Saturday, serving people onsite and delivering meals to households that face transportation, mobility, or accessibility challenges. Parents’ Place also coordinates 21 Free Community Pantries across the region, supports a frozen soup program, and collaborates closely with schools, churches, SchoolsPlus, YACRO, and other community groups to ensure consistent access to nutritious food.

This project will evaluate CFN-supported food security programs delivered between April 2025 and March 2026. An intern, supervised by an academic expert in program evaluation and community-engaged research, will help the CFN better understand how its programs are improving food access, supporting dignity, and strengthening social inclusion. The project will include data collection, community interviews, and the development of simple monitoring tools that volunteers and partners can use on an ongoing basis.

The final outcome will be an accessible evaluation report that highlights what is working well, identifies gaps, and provides clear recommendations to strengthen CFN programs and partnerships. By building evaluation capacity and improving routine data collection, this project will help the Yarmouth CFN communicate its impact, plan more effectively, and continue supporting food-insecure residents with dignity and respect.

Faculty Supervisor:

Maya Giorbelidze

Student:

Partner:

Parents Place Family Resource Center

Discipline:

Sociology

Sector:

Health and Related Sciences & Technology

University:

Cape Breton University

Program: