A big donation to the Moose Jaw & District Chamber of Commerce’s new fundraising campaign The Big Give has helped the food security fundraiser reach a milestone in it's goal to support local restaurants and individuals within the community.
The Big Give is an initiative from the local chamber that is turning every dollar donated directly back to local restaurants, purchasing full-price meals to be distributed to individuals in need by local food security organizations Hunger in Moose Jaw and the Moose Jaw & District Food Bank.
Chamber CEO Rob Clark describes the new fundraiser as a “win-win-win” kind of initiative, as it supports local restaurants impacted by COVID-19 by providing some income, while also feeding people in the community in need of a nutritional meal.
The campaign kicked off at the beginning of March with a goal of raising $20,000. After the first donation from the Moose Jaw Express got the ball rolling, Clark said tons of local businesses and individuals stepped up with donations.
"With the community, and knowing how they support local, it's just been amazing," said Clark. "[Moose Jaw] has done a stellar job, we couldn't be prouder."
On March 18, Clark shared that a generous $10,000 donation from The Mosaic Company put The Big Give campaign well past its fundraising goal, for a total of $24,777 raised in just over two weeks.
“The pandemic has impacted and challenged local businesses – especially restaurants, and members of the Moose Jaw community,” said a provided statement from Sarah Fedorchuk, vice-president of government and public affairs at Mosaic. “We’re providing $10,000 to help the Chamber’s Big Give campaign over the top of its goal as a way to support a community and its people through two incredible organizations that we have proudly partnered with for many years.”
The money raised so far by The Big Give is expected to provide 2,500 individuals in Moose Jaw with a healthy, balanced meal prepared by one of the 23 local restaurants that have signed on to be a part of the initiative.
Delivery of the first donated meals also began on March 18, with committee members gathering at The Mad Greek to pick up and deliver the first 50 meals of the campaign.
“This is one of the best, if not the best, things about owning a business, is being able to do things like this,” said John Iatridis, owner of the Mad Greek, about the delivery kick-off. “And to have people like Rob and groups [in Moose Jaw] that are trying to help us as well.”
John Iatridis, owner of the Mad Greek, hands Hunger in Moose Jaw executive director Sharla Sept a box of food for the first deliveries of The Big Give campaign. / (photo by Larissa Kurz)Clark said the Chamber had originally planned for the campaign to wrap up at the end of the month, but the incredible boom of interest from the community means The Big Give will likely be sticking around a little longer — as in, as long as donations are coming in.
Additionally, Clark said that the committee is also looking to expand the reach of The Big Give and provide support to other food security programs and non-profit organizations in the city as well.
“When it started, we didn’t know what we could raise [and when donations came in], it was like we won the lottery,” said Clark. “Now, we’re going to broaden our scope [and] we’re going to feed as many people as we can. Everybody that needs a meal, we're going to try and get one on their doorstep.”
To make a donation to The Big Give, contact the Moose Jaw & District Chamber of Commerce by phone at 1 (306) 692-6414 or email at [email protected].
