Hunger in Moose Jaw is quickly approaching its 30th year of operations in Moose Jaw, and it's likely that many don’t know about all of the nutrition-based programs the charitable organization runs within the community.
Since 1993, Hunger in Moose Jaw has focused on providing nutrition and education for both children and their families. The organization was created as a community initiative to address the issue of hunger in the community, and to offer needed resources to the community's vulnerable families.
“We're not strictly just for children, we're trying to support the whole family,” said Sharla Sept, executive director at Hunger in Moose Jaw. “We are open for anyone, so any situation that you're in or anything, we can support and help. All we need is for you to reach out.”
The organization works closely with government supports and a number of partnered businesses in the community, with the generous help of dedicated volunteers assisting Hunger in Moose Jaw’s staff with all of their programs every day.
Hunger in Moose Jaw runs much like the Moose Jaw & District Food Bank, taking in donations of food items and cash to offer clients nutritional meal supplies on a regular basis. The difference between the two services, said Sept, really just comes down to approach.
“We have a variety of different programs, but we're all doing the exact same thing and trying to support food security in Moose Jaw, but we just do it in a different way,” said Sept.
Hunger in Moose Jaw operates several different programs at the same time. The largest focus of the organization is their child nutrition program, which delivers healthy lunches to children in 18 different schools in Moose Jaw.
During regular operations, Sept estimates that Hunger in Moose Jaw provides lunches to more than 340 children every day.
“That streams out to impact the families (too), but we also have our Good Food Box families and our community garden families," said Sept. "Our services really trickle down into other areas, so what can affect a child can affect a family and trickle to another family."
Hunger in Moose Jaw also runs free preschool classes every weekday morning called the Headstart Preschool program, which features learning, social interaction, and a healthy snack as its headlining concepts. The preschool program is popular, with all 30 spaces for three- to four-year-olds filling up fairly quickly.
Hunger in Moose Jaw also runs a Junior Chef program several times throughout the school year. The hands-on program is designed for 9-12 years olds, where they get to plan and cook an entire meal, from main course to dessert.
The organization doesn’t just run programs for children, either. Hunger in Moose Jaw also has its Good Food Box program, available to the general public, which puts together a healthy collection of fruits and vegetables for an affordable price.
There are three different sizes of the Good Food Box, which is made available twice every month, and is one of Hunger in Moose Jaw’s most popular programs.
The Community Kitchen program is also a great program for anyone who might benefit from learning more about the art of cooking — from planning for proper nutrition to hygiene practices, to tips on how to shop and put together an entire meal from start to finish.
And, of course, Hunger in Moose Jaw oversees the community gardens here in the city, an initiative that supports the idea of sustainable nutrition and community involvement.
In partnership with Yara International, Moose Jaw has two locations for their community gardens, one on South Hill and one on Grey Avenue.
With 140 plots between three locations, the Yara Community Gardens offer a convenient green space for community members to grow their own fruits, veggies, herbs, or flowers — whatever strikes the green thumb.
Hunger in Moose Jaw relies on continued support from the community to be able to do what they do, said Sept.
“The community support is unbelievable. We are always surprised and so thankful for the support we do get from the community, it's nothing I have actually seen before,” said Sept. “It's a great thing, how people come together and how they support our organization from all different walks of life, but with all the same mission to help support our children and families in Moose Jaw.”
Between donations and volunteers, Sept is always pleased to see Moose Jaw continuing to help Hunger in Moose Jaw every year.
“I think just being able to support one another is always important, in any way, shape for form that we can do that, and we're just doing our little part in doing the food security part,” said Sept. “We know there's a lot of organizations in town that are doing different parts, and we're just one part of the puzzle.”
Most of Hunger in Moose Jaw’s programs are suspended or have changed availability due to the coronavirus pandemic, but questions about any of their initiatives can be directed to [email protected] or by leaving a message at 1 (306) 692-1916. Details about Hunger in Moose Jaw's programming are available on their website.
