Whether it’s collecting fabric or distributing food, Hunger in Moose Jaw is always on the lookout for ways to help the community and meet the needs of residents.
The non-profit charitable organization is pursuing several initiatives during the next few months, all of which the community is encouraged to support.
Hunger in Moose Jaw’s annual Fall into Fabric Sale is in September, so the organization is asking for donations of fabric pieces larger than 0.5 metres, along with yarn and sewing notions, said executive director Sharla Sept.
Residents can drop off the pieces at 269 Stadacona Street West on April 20 and 21 between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. The fabric sale will be held at Zion United Church.
Hunger in Moose Jaw also organizes the Yara Community Gardens locations. There are still some plots left that gardeners of any skill level can rent for the season. To book a space, contact Suzanne Ramage at 306-630-3498, the office at 306-692-1916 or email [email protected].
The charity plans to open the gates at both locations on Monday, April 25.
Meanwhile, the Good Food Box program is in full swing and runs until the end of June. This initiative provides quality fruits and vegetables twice a month, Sept said. This program is based on the belief that everyone has the right to safe and affordable food.
A large box of fresh fruits and veggies is $20, a small box is $15 and a bag is $10.
“We’ve had a need for it for many years. I think we’re going on 15 years now that we’ve had the program going,” she continued. “… it’s just an opportunity for people to buy (fruits and vegetables) at a lower cost.”
Hunger in Moose Jaw hands out more than 200 boxes of produce to families every two weeks— that number has reached 400 at times — and those boxes feed many more people, Sept said. Many people have praised the program, which is now more important than ever with rising food prices.
Meanwhile, the child nutrition program has been running for almost 30 years and continues to support school kids regularly. According to Sept, Hunger in Moose Jaw provides 350 meals per day to all Moose Jaw schools.
“It is a lot of students (and) a lot of lunches,” she chuckled. “We just see a need for it, is the point. There is a need in Moose Jaw for that food security piece for children. And we just want to support kids that may not be getting that extra nutrition at home — or can’t get it … . We’ve seen that need increase over the years.
“We just want to support kids to make sure they can learn the best,” Sept added. “And they learn best with a full stomach.”
Hunger in Moose Jaw also operates two other programs.
One initiative is a head-start community preschool program for three- and four-year-olds, which addresses their physical needs in a supportive environment.
A second program is the community kitchens and junior chefs initiative. The former allows small groups of adults to learn how to prepare nutritious and tasty meals for their families, while the latter is a similar program geared toward kids from nine to 12.
For more information, visit Hunger in Moose Jaw’s Facebook page.
