Salvation Army Food Banks distributed nine tonnes of food with the help of Swift Current/SW Sask businesses
rdahlman@prairiepost.com
Southwest Saskatchewan has been hurting on a number of fronts with the pandemic affecting lives and the economy.
Many people have lost their jobs and are running short of cash. One of the aspects which suffers is diet. Captain Ed Dean speaking on behalf of the Salvation Army-led food banks for Swift Current and Maple Creek explained on a Facebook interview/ watch party with Pastor Shane Andrus of the Hope Church in Burstall that they had distributed 9 tonnes of groceries between the two communities. Within a six-week period, they also sent out 1,000 dozen eggs.
“We have been finding groceries to put back on our shelves,” explained Dean. “We have seen an increase in the use of it.”
The story was relayed about Canadian Tire representatives handing over a cheque donation to Dean but then also giving them a 20L pail of hand sanitizer. That will help a lot of people get the highly coveted anti-bacterial product.
The region’s Hutterian colonies,
Pioneer Co-op and
Walmart in Swift
Current, have also contributed greatly to the food banks’ cause.
There were 500 people in Swift Current fed and while there was a reported recent lull in Maple Creek, Dean says they have to be ready for an expected jump in need.
Andrus was also thankful for the support from the business community.
“We are all in the same storm with the pandemic; we are just in different boats,” noted Andrus who hosted the forum.
Dean added have also had help from so many individuals who also want to help. They, like the businesses, are appreciative of the Salvation Army’s efforts during this difficult time.
“They will say something like they want to help our ministry,” said Dean.
“Don’t be afraid to reach out to us (even if it’s just for a few times). There are people out there who were working two or three jobs and are down to one… you need to have the food in order to be healthy.”
Contact Dean at the Maple Creek office at 306-662-3871 or contribute online salvationarmy.ca