Hunger in Moose Jaw director updates community on fall fundraiser

The annual "I Bought a Lunch" fall fundraising campaign for the benefit of Hunger in Moose Jaw began on Oct. 14 and is scheduled to end on Nov. 25. The fundraiser is extremely important to the non-profit, which now makes 350 lunches every day for schoolchildren in Moose Jaw and expects those numbers to rise.

"We are approaching our last week of 'I Bought a Lunch,'" said Hunger in Moose Jaw director Sharla Sept. "We have not reached our goal as of yet, but we are hopeful that we will raise it by the end of December."

Although the campaign will officially end on Nov. 25, Sept said, Hunger in Moose Jaw won't stop accepting donations because the need this year is great than ever.

"We have seen record highs in numbers in the first two months of the school year," she added, "and the cost to make our lunches has doubled.

"Where we would see 350 lunches daily in January, we saw it happen in October. This is a strong indicator that our numbers may reach the 400 mark by the end of the school year."

Sept said that she and her staff, the Hunger in Moose Jaw board, and their volunteers are extremely grateful for the donations that have come in already. The nutritionally complete lunches they offer each day to schools in Moose Jaw may be the best meal recipients get, making Hunger in Moose Jaw an essential component of the education the children receive.

In September, when the Burns & McDonnell power plant team presented $26,000 to Hunger in Moose Jaw, site safety administrator Jade Wilcox noted that she had personally benefited from the program growing up.

“I was actually able to use the program when I first moved to Moose Jaw and it was the factor in me finishing school, Wilcox told MooseJawToday.com at the cheque presentation. "Sometimes it was my only meal in the day, so to be able to be a part of this and give back to (Hunger in Moose Jaw) is so amazing and magical.”

Wilcox's comments are a reminder that without proper nutrition, children may have difficulty realizing their educational goals.

Ways to donate to Hunger in Moose Jaw include:

• At Hunger in Moose Jaw's office at 269 Stadacona Street West
• E-transfer to [email protected]
• By credit card over the phone at 306-692-1916
• Mail-in cheque
• On their website at hungerinmoosejaw.org

"Each and every dollar counts towards our mission to support children and families through educational and nutritional programming," Sept said.