The SEED wins $10,000 for Meridian Credit Union award, voting open now for $50,000 final round

GUELPH – The SEED, a community food project of the Guelph Community Health Centre (GCHC), has been selected as one of Meridian Credit Union’s 15 Small Business Big Impact Award community winners, receiving $10,000 in recognition of its innovative, community-driven approach to building a better local food system. 

The Meridian Small Business Big Impact Awards celebrate small businesses and community organizations that make meaningful contributions to their communities and the environment. 

This year’s winners were selected from more than 6,000 nominations across Ontario.

As a community award recipient, the SEED now advances as a finalist for the Ontario Votes Grand Prize, an additional $50,000 awarded to one organization through public voting. 

Voting is open now through March 2, and Ontarians are encouraged to cast their vote to help determine this year’s grand prize winner. 

The SEED is a project of the GCHC focused on creating a community with no barriers to healthy food. 

Through programming, partnerships, and social enterprise initiatives, the SEED works to address poverty, promote health and build a resilient local food system rooted in dignity, equity and community care.

Since 2015, the SEED has grown into a leading community food initiative offering innovative programs and social enterprises that increase both physical and financial access to nutritious food, officials state.  

Its work includes Groceries from the SEED, sliding-scale community markets, the Upcycle Kitchen, Fresh Food Rx, and food-growing initiatives such as Shelldale Farm Park. 

These programs are designed to address the root causes of food insecurity while building a more just, equitable food system.

“We are honoured to receive this recognition from Meridian and thrilled to be among such inspiring organizations across Ontario,” GCHC CEO Melissa Kwiatkowski said. “This award strengthens our ability to create community-led solutions to food insecurity and brings visibility to the power of collaborative, equitable food systems.” 

In 2025, the SEED moved more than $3.5 million worth of food through the community, supporting thousands of households across Guelph and Wellington County.