Federal government invests $1M to help 'at-risk' youth in Sault Ste. Marie, Ont.

The federal government is investing over $1 million to go toward creating opportunities for "at-risk youth" in Sault Ste. Marie.

The funding, announced Thursday, will be for five years, and will support the Grocer 4 Good and the Cafe 4 Good initiatives.

Grocer 4 Good helps provide employment and work experience to those people in Sault Ste. Marie's downtown who face barriers, including food access.

The funding will support Grocer 4 Good with a cafe model to address the under-employment of youth in the justice system or who are at risk of incarceration.

"Early intervention and supportive pathways to meaningful opportunities are proven ways of reducing crime," said Sault Ste. Marie's MP, Terry Sheehan in a news release. 

"Grocer 4 Good has an excellent track record in our community,

and I am thrilled that our government is supporting this new initiative as work with youth at-risk of interacting with the justice system."

The goal is to support 28 young people per year, offering them job skills, paid employment, and social emotional support — all leading to a healthy life plan.

The woman who started the initiative about five years ago, is thrilled with the new injection of funding and commitment. 

"G4G started as a dream of mine in 2018, we incorporated in 2019, opened in 2020 and we were dealt the same blow as many with the pandemic, the team never faltered and we not only continued but expanded into a new space and added a teaching kitchen." said Lisa Vezeau-Allen, the founder and president, of Grocer 4 Good, in a news release.

"Food brings us all together, that is our underlying philosophy. 

Grocer 4 Good and Cafe 4 Good are for our community and our team cannot wait to serve our customers."