As of June 22, door-to-door deliveries of supplies will come to an end, with families able to pick up their packages at the Hunger in Moose Jaw facility itself, located at 269 Stadacona St. West.
“We have a specific date and time, that way every week at that same date and time they can pick up throughout the summer,” said Sharla Sept, executive director of Hunger in Moose Jaw. “We’re just noticing now that people are more out and about, and we don’t want to leave groceries out in the elements and heat and all that. We want to make this a little bit easier for people to come out and grab them.”
It’s all in the name of keeping the fresh produce from spoiling — packages contain enough food to supply a family lunches for a week, including bread, cheese, meat, eggs, milk and fresh fruit and vegetables. Leaving that out in the hot summer sun for the better part of a day while someone is at work could be problematic, leading to the change to pick-up.
This is the first year Hunger in Moose Jaw has moved to this model for the summer months, after having run the program through the City of Moose Jaw parks program in the past. But with the COVID-19 pandemic shutting down parks along with everything else, a change was necessary.
“It’s all different this year, as is everything,” Sept said. “So we’re just going to support families directly from our building… We’re just working with the changes and doing what we can to support our families.”
Those who are involved in the program are asked to contact the Hunger in Moose Jaw office in order to advise whether or not weekly lunch supplies are still needed. You can do so by messaging through their Facebook site, by e-mail at hunger.moosejaw@sasktel.net, or by phone at 306-692-1916. Be sure to do so by June 15.
Patrons will be provided a day and time to pick up their lunch bag in a contactless manner.
For more information on Hunger in Moose Jaw — and to make a donation to their cause of supporting children and their families through education and nutritional programming that nurtures their potential — visit their website.
