1920s-themed event raises funds for community food centre project

By Mo Cranker on October 1, 2018.

mcranker@medicinehatnews.com @MHNmocranker

Members of the community gathered Saturday at the Medicine Hat Exhibition & Stampede for a 1920s-themed fundraiser called And All That Jazz — which served as a soft launch for a community food and wellness centre concept for the area.

The night featured drinks, dancing, live music, multiple silent auctions — all with the purpose of helping the Medicine Hat and District Food Bank to raise the initial capital dollars to help fund the project.

“It’s really exciting for us to be here tonight and launching this project,” said food bank executive director Celina Symmonds. “Getting that initial money will allow us to start reaching out and applying for certain grants — which will help us bring this to the area.”

The food bank would be looking to move out of its current location and move to an entirely new building. No new location has been picked yet, but a few images were on display Saturday that showed the concept of the food and wellness centre — which would have a community garden outside of it.

“The idea is to have a community hub where people can come together,” said Symmonds. “There would be a lot of different things within the new building.

“There would be a pay-what-you-can restaurant, kitchens where people can learn to cook, a community garden and there would be a food bank in there — it’s about creating food sustainability in people’s lives.”

Symmonds said Saturday the group was hoping to raise “significant funds” with the event.

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