Urban Roots London received a $282,354, 3-year Community Vitality grant in 2024 to grow their infrastructure with a focus on expanding their site at Siloam United Church.
In 2025, with the support of the grant, they donated over 5,200lb of fresh produce to organizations running food security programming across London, a 126% increase in their donated food from 2024.
The majority of the food – over 15,300lb in 2025 – grown by Urban Roots is sold at affordable prices at pop-up markets held by community partners across the city, including various community and neighbourhood resource centres, Southwest Ontario Aboriginal Health Access Centre, London & Middlesex Community Housing, and The Patch. These markets helped over 1,700 families in London access affordable food last year.
With the support of London Community Foundation’s grant, the site at Siloam has expanded by 2,000 square feet of planted bed space and seen additional volunteers support the site, which grows a wide variety of food including tomatoes, lettuce, blackberries, peppers, carrots, and various herbs. The summer of 2026 saw a particularly good yield on zucchini, kale, and currants.
Of the over 1,200lb grown at the Siloam site, over 850lb was distributed directly to families in the local area and the East London United Church Outreach’s Food Cupboard program, ensuring that the people using the program have the same access to fresh, locally-grown food as anyone buying it.
“Urban Roots was built on the idea that everyone is deserving of high-quality, nutritious food. We believe that there is dignity in food and having access to the ability to choose your food. It is not just about cultivating food; it’s about nurturing communities, increasing food security, and fostering self-reliance.”
Executive Director, Anna Badillo
Having had a good harvest in 2026 so far, Anna anticipates that the Siloam site will yield a harvest of 1,800lb this year, further growing Urban Roots’ impact on Food Security in North East London.
