It started out as a way to show support for local restaurants with the hopes of raising at best between $5,000 to $10,000 to purchase meals for those less fortunate, but in the end it massively exceeded even the organizers’ wildest expectations.
The final — and 2,614th meal — has been delivered and The Big Give has been declared a major success.
“This went well beyond our expectations,” Rob Clark, CEO of the Moose Jaw & District Chamber of Commerce said.
Clark said he was floored by the generosity of Moose Jaw businesses and individuals while at the same time it is typical Moose Jaw — digging down to help out those in need.
The purpose of The Big Give was two-fold.
One purpose was to deliver nutritious and delicious restaurant meals to those in need who may have some difficulty affording to go out to a restaurant, while at the same time showing financial and psychological support to local restaurants.
“This went really well. I still have a big smile on my face about the amount we raised and the amount of people fed,” Clark said. “That’s pretty cool when you come up with that kind of money.”
He said it wasn’t just about feeding people in the year of the COVID-19 pandemic but also was designed to put some cash into the hands of local restaurants — most who have been impacted by the pandemic restrictions.
Clark said the organizers did their best to ensure that the participating restaurants received as close as possible to an equal $1,100 share.
“It put cash and business into local businesses right when they needed it the most. It helped keep staff busy and paid some bills in what is a tough year for many of them,” he said.
On top of the cash, the 23 participating restaurants received the show of support from the community that had a major impact on the businesses, he said.
“The businesses got the feeling that despite the tough times people in the community supported them. It is a feeling that is carrying over as things get better.”
Working with organizations such as Hunger In Moose Jaw and the Moose Jaw & District Food Bank was “a joy and a pleasure” Clark said as they did their best to make sure the program was a success.
For the families who received the meals, the feeling was one of gratitude.
“I have never had so many thank you’s in my life. It was really heart-warming for them to get the food and they would be waiting for you and thanking you and thanking you over and over again for bringing it.”
Clark said the recipients of the restaurant meals came from “all walks of life.”
“It has been a tough year for many people and to have a fresh, hot and nutritious healthy restaurant meal was something they really enjoyed,” he said.
As the program got going other groups such as churches would also call in and add people who are presently down on their luck and having a meal delivered to them was something they truly needed, Clark said.
A highlight of The Big Give was when the program purchased 250 drinks from Booster Juice and they were delivered to children as part of a Hunger in Moose Jaw program.
“We got a phone call from a school about how the students really enjoyed it,” he said.
It is something that Sharla Sept, executive director with Hunger In Moose Jaw, said the organization appreciated being part of.
The group, started over 30 years ago, with a mandate to help wipe out hunger in Moose Jaw assists 300 children through its school nutrition program as well between 100 to 150 adults and family members on a monthly basis.
Sept said the restaurant meals were an added bonus for her organization.
That Booster Juice distributed throughout their school program was something great to have and it provided an additional vegetable and fruit item in the children’s daily food intake, she said.
“It was just a little extra boost for our families. It was something to look forward to. A little bit of a boost in a year that has been a tough year on everyone,” Sept said. “It was a little bit of a much appreciated add on.”
Working with the Chamber had been a pleasure, she said, and the organization was appreciative for the restaurant meals for the people they help.
“It was really great to support our families in another way.”
The meal preparation and delivery schedule was set up and tailored for both the restaurants and the people receiving the meals.
Clark said one of the great things about The Big Give is that it had a delivery schedule which helped out the participating restaurants. Meals were prepared on most restaurants’ down times just before the supper rush.
“They were able to do assembly line and not tie up the line cooks during the busy supper hour. The schedule worked out great.”
In the end he said The Big Give was well worth it and there is even talk about perhaps doing the program next year, Clark said.
https://www.mjindependent.com/new-blog/2021/7/22/k5udlq8xh11clznw600ovuzz7f4gho
