Root Cellar receives $50,000 donation from LDS church

By ANNA SMITH Local Journalism Initiative on December 18, 2025.

asmith@medicinehatnews.com

The Root Cellar received a generous donation, ensuring more security over the winter months.
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints gave $50,000 to the Root Cellar on Tuesday, coming in on top of other donations made by other members of the community.
“Our partnership with the Root Cellar goes back many years,” said communications director Bruce Hill with the LDS Church. “Through our regular volunteers there and previous donations, we know that any time, effort or money given to this incredible organization is truly well spent.”
Welfare and Self Reliance Manager for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints in Western Canada David Reeve had made the suggestion a week prior, said the Church in a press release, with the donation being approved shortly thereafter.
“This donation means that we can have stability in our pantry and ensures that we can keep food on the shelves for the people that are coming,” said Root Cellar executive director Melissa Mullis. “We’re very busy, not just because of Christmas, but because of the cost of living crisis that we’re in, and so we’re seeing a lot more people than we’ve ever seen before.”
Mullis says while the Holiday Season itself is not usually something that brings in a lot of people who may not otherwise require assistance from the Root Cellar, it does often highlight the issue. She says often their busiest time of year is January and February.

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