Souls Harbour Rescue Mission (SHRM) is once again seeking to raise money for a new facility in Moose Jaw with their ‘Love Your Neighbour’ banquet, taking place 5:30 p.m. on Wednesday, May 24 at Grant Hall Hotel.
The banquet will support the Christian non-profit in its mission to provide for the needy. Riverside Mission is struggling with ongoing maintenance costs at their current location on Manitoba Street East. In addition, SHRM is seeking to expand their offered services with a brand-new facility on River Street West.
SHRM has been operating since 1990 and provides services in both Regina and Moose Jaw. Between the two locations, they serve nearly 350 meals per day, provide 34 emergency shelter beds for men, run a residential addiction treatment program for women, a Christian daycare, and more.
The proposed new project would create a 14,500 sq. ft., two-storey facility including a 50-person dining hall for Riverside Mission, a food distribution and clothing processing centre, 11 affordable housing suites, six suites for a men’s addiction program, and community support services offices.
Full details are available at www.shrmsk.com/moose-jaw-building-project.
SHRM has obtained the land, but project costs have gone from an estimated $4.5 million to more than $5.4 million. SHRM is struggling to find that money, and the project is now two years behind schedule.
SHRM executive director Joe Miller previously told the Moose Jaw Express that “we’ve lost faith” that the community will fund the new building. Miller criticized federal, provincial, and municipal governments for their lack of support, expressed disappointment with the results of recent fundraisers, and said local businesses have not committed enough financial support.
“We are a non-profit and we are taking care of Moose Jaw’s most marginalized citizens,” Miller said in that interview. “… I would hope that the community is in support of that … we just need a better response.”
“We haven’t had a huge rally of support for the [River Street] project itself,” said Rachel Mullens. Mullens has worked for SHRM for 10 years and oversees Riverside Mission as director of emergency services. “That has been a bit discouraging, I would say, but this Love Your Neighbour banquet will be the start of a new rally to put together some funds and move forward.”
Mullens said that Grant Hall have been awesome to work with as the date of the banquet approaches. There are 150 seats available — tickets are $50 each or $350 for a table of eight.
“We still have some spots available,” she noted. “The banquet this year is very much geared towards our new building. We’re going to have some people from the community speak on our behalf as to what the new building will provide for Moose Jaw, and Joe Miller, our executive director, will do a question-and-answer to clarify things for anyone who has questions.
“The funds will be going directly towards the new building, which we’re really hoping to get off the ground this year.”
Mullens added that in her ten years with SHRM, the community of Moose Jaw has always stepped up to help.
“Moose Jaw has been an amazing community,” she said. “We’re very grateful to the community and this new project will open a lot more doors. If anyone is interested in knowing more about it, [they should] buy tickets to the banquet, or come on down to Riverside and I would be happy to show them what the project looks like and have a conversation with them.”
The Love Your Neighbour banquet needs sponsors. Interested businesses should contact Taeryong No, finance manager at Riverside Mission. No can be reached at [email protected], or by phone at 306-510-4673.
