As they look for ways to earn income, they are less willing to volunteer their time to keep the kitchens operating. The residents are exploring ways to pay someone to cook and serve the meals. They recognize the real solution lies in being able to find work and earn a living. It offers North American consumers a wide range of gifts, gourmet coffees and other fine foods representing the efforts of women, men and families united to help themselves and their communities. As an alternate trading organization, Bridgehead provides market opportunities for marginalized farmers and other producers around the world.
Fair trade helps build independence and community empowerment for small farmers and their families.
Community gardens, healthy baby clubs, school lunch programmes, community food banks are all meeting an immediate need to feed hungry people. In Brophy Place, a low-income housing community in St. John ' s, Newfoundland, neighbors are working together, operating their own food bank and planting a community garden. The Brophy Place programmes are bringing people together and strengthening the community as they organize and challenge programmes and policies that perpetuate poverty. Through FoodShare of Metro Toronto a programme of community shared agriculture has been developed. Consumers pay local farmers in advance and they in turn deliver organic produce directly to the sharer ' s neighborhood.