Mustard Seed seeking public assistance to meet increased food demand
By Medicine Hat News on May 9, 2024.
The Medicine Hat Mustard Seed is urgently seeking donations, as demand for services is higher than ever before. The number of people relying on the Mustard Seed for food, shelter and other resources has been steadily increasing, putting a strain on what the organization has available to assist each person. In greatest demand is the need for food, the Mustard Seed says, and for this reason staff are reaching out to the greater public for assistance. “Our Medicine Hat shelter location is at full capacity, and we have a growing number of new guests coming to our Community Impact Centre each day. We are doing everything we can to meet this increased demand, but without additional resources, we may not be able to keep up,” said Laura Giesbrecht, senior director of food services. The Medicine Hat Community Impact Centre is currently providing 200-250 meals a day on average, not including snacks served in the afternoon and evening. Public donations are at a low point, and support is needed urgently to continue offering the quality and quantity of the service, the organization says. Most needed food items include rice, sugar, noodles, juice crystals, canned soup, cereals, powdered milk, beef and chicken stock, granola bars and flour, though prospective donors can check online at TheSeed.ca/Urgently-Needed for a full list of items needed. “We are calling on our community to help us continue providing these essential services. Please consider making a donation or volunteering your time. Your support can make a significant difference in the lives of those we serve,” said Laura Giesbrecht. 8-7
