Moose Jaw pulls together for Better Together Food Drive

Moose Jaw's Better Together Food Drive was back in person Monday night after being held online the last two years due to the pandemic.

About 400 volunteers turned out on Halloween night and attempted to canvas every single house in Moose Jaw over a three-hour stretch. Those helping out included junior hockey players and the women's basketball team from Briercrest. Over a hundred volunteers from Vanier Collegiate also came out Monday morning to help make boxes.

Daycee Richardson, community advocate with Hillcrest Church, says the rain stayed away for the volunteers as they made their way throughout the city. She notes Moose Jaw residents were extremely generous this year, adding that before COVID they were able to collect about 50,000 lbs of food in one night. Trucks delivered the food to the fairgrounds where it was sorted, packed, and palleted. Delivery will take place on Tuesday with amounts being calculated at that time as well.

The return of the in-person event couldn't have come at a better time.

"We've been partners with the food bank for 17 years now and we just really believe in the work that they're doing and we know that the need at the Food Bank is rising," commented Richardson. "We see that their numbers are on track this year, they will have about 50 per cent more clients than they had last year. We know that's really important. Even though we've raised money in the last two years, and that was great, it doesn't equal the value of the amount of food that's collected on this night."

In addition to food, they also collected cash and non-food items.

(L-R) Deann Little (MJ Food Bank), Daycee Richarson (Hillcrest Church), Terri Smith (MJ Food Bank)

Terri Smith, operations manager for the Moose Jaw and District Food Bank, was encouraged to see so many people helping out.

"So grateful to see so many faces I haven't seen in two years. A lot of new faces, coming out this evening as well," she commented. "It means a lot to the Food Bank just to see our community getting together and helping each other, especially after all that we've gone through in the last two years with the pandemic. It's just nice to see everybody grouping together to help everybody up. We're not here to hand out, we're here to help people and help them up."

Smith says the Better Together Food Drive usually brings in enough food to last for the entire year, adding not having the event the last two years really hurt their food supply.

She explains they have been able to keep up with demand but the number of people using the Food Bank is increasing. Since the beginning of the year they've been handing out over 400 hampers a month, which is up about 14 per cent.

Jerry Stevens has been volunteering since day one

Jerry Stevens of Moose Jaw has been volunteering at the Better Together Food Drive since it first began 17 years ago. He commented on the number of young people donating their time this year.

"I'm very impressed with that. It's nice experience for them to see what volunteering is all about and doing goodwill to the community and giving of themselves and their hearts to other people in Moose Jaw."

While the food drive is a one-night event, Moose Javians can still support the cause by dropping off food donations at the Moose Jaw and District Food Bank located at 270 Fairford Street West. Hillcrest Church has also offered to pick up donations if you give them a call at (306) 692-5600.

Items on the most wanted list include canned vegetables, soup, pork and beans, cookies, crackers, Lipton Sidekicks, pasta, and Kraft Dinner.