Every Saturday you can find REALTOR® Rose Iannacchino smiling behind the counter at the volunteer-run GROW Community Food Literacy Centre in Niagara Falls, Ontario. Surrounded by fresh produce, healthy prepared meals, and other grocery staples, the co-executive director leads a team serving over 450 members who live below the poverty line.
As a 14-year veteran REALTOR® with Royal LePage NRC Realty, Rose always found ways to fit giving back into her busy schedule. Then in 2019, at a summer concert with her grandson, she met GROW founder and co-executive director, Pam Farrell, who shared plans for a new charity focused on tackling the food insecurity and literacy problem in Niagara.
“I’ve always enjoyed giving of myself, so I’ve always done some kind of charity work. GROW really kind of pulled me in though, and I gave it my all,” explains Rose.
Rose’s commitment to the organization and its members, roughly 70% of whom suffer from chronic health conditions directly related to dietary intake, has translated into over 3000 volunteer hours logged since 2020. Some of her responsibilities include managing the food market, training volunteers, and using her connections within the business community to develop funding streams and source low-to-no cost food for the growing member base.
Access to healthy and fresh options is near impossible for residents in GROW’s neighbourhood. The area is a food desert, meaning its most vulnerable residents don’t have reasonable access to fresh, healthy food options at an afforable price, in spite of being in a city surrounded by some of Ontario’s most bountiful farmlands.
“It’s a significant problem, especially in our neighborhood,” says Pam Farrell. “Before we opened, families were forced to buy their groceries at the dollar store or at the convenience store, really making it difficult for them to buy the foods that they want nutritionally and culturally for themselves and their families.”
Beyond the expected vegetables and pantry items, Rose works to respond to the unique dietary and financial needs of GROW’s members. Any staple can be sourced, from pet food and vitamins, to almond milk and halal meat. It’s a critical piece of GROW’s vision, where members are provided with the tools and training to learn about why and how to make healthy meals, along with the ability to choose whatever items they want based on their personal needs.
On non-market days, Rose plans additional programming to provide members with healthy opportunities like cooking and food skills programs to help community members improve confidence in preparing nutritious food. Rose also ensures that families can come together for special occasions and runs their Holiday-in-a-Box program at Easter, Thanksgiving and Christmas.
Through her work on the fundraising committee, Rose leverages her real estate connections to ensure the 100% volunteer-run centre can serve its members. Her nights and weekends involve speaking in front of local service groups, soliciting individual donations, and participating in events like Niagara’s Sip and Shop, Glamour Bingo, and Tim Horton’s Smile Cookie Campaign.
“Rose just makes the world go around here at GROW,” says volunteer Win Laar. “She gets all the food in here, she looks after her volunteers, and has us caring for each other. That’s coming from the top, that’s coming from Rose. “
Never one to sit back, Rose and GROW now have their eyes set on extending the reach of accessible, affordable, healthy food to vulnerable community members in surrounding regions through their proposed GROW on the Go mobile market.
“Giving back to the community has really impacted my life, made me feel like I’m doing something good, helping as much as I can. It fills my soul,” reflects Rose.
REALTORS Care® Spotlight shares stories of how featured nominees of the Canadian REALTORS Care® Award are working to make their communities a better place for all. Be on the lookout for more inspiring spotlights throughout the year.
