Jun 17th, 2026

Volunteers help bring healthy produce to residents of Debra Dynes community 

Thanks to the Victory Garden in Debra Dynes community, fresh produce and herbs will soon be available at the Family House Food Bank.   

The Debra Dynes Family House recently received a $150,000 grant from the Ontario Trillium Foundation. It will provide enough money for three years to run a pilot “urban farm.”  

The farm includes 28 new garden beds; double the number the community already had. The grant also pays for a garden master, seeds, and equipment. 

“We are a strong community, and we can support children getting healthy food when we work together,” said Ray Eskritt, the Executive Director of the Debra Dynes Family House.  

Fifty volunteers from PWC installed the garden beds on May 28. It was the third time the company had volunteered in an OCH community.  

Here’s what one volunteer had to say about why they enjoyed donating their time.  

“I grew up in an OCH community until I was 17. It’s amazing to see that my employer supports this community. It really resonates with me, especially now as a parent.” 

Ray said the community house plans to offer workshops for kids, families and adults this summer. The final details are being worked out but will likely include planting, transplanting, harvesting, pickling, and preserving produce for long-term storage.