MOOSE JAW — Each Halloween, volunteers with the Better Together Food Drive organized by the Hillcrest Apostolic Church embark on a quest to collect food in support of the Moose Jaw & District Food Bank.
After a busy night of organizing, collecting, sorting, and loading non-perishable donations, 615 volunteers — including 90 student volunteers from Vanier Collegiate — helped raise 52,776 lbs. of food from generous residents on Oct. 31.
For the first time in its history, the drive required two 53-foot semi trailers to haul everything from the Exhibition Grounds sorting centre to the food bank.
“It was amazing,” announced Daycee Richardson, the community advocate for the Hillcrest Church and a food drive co-ordinator. “In fact, it was one of our smoothest sailing years.
“We just couldn’t get over how many things kept coming into place. It was better than normal and we had a record number of volunteers out collecting and helping us.”
The Better Together Food Drive was first organized in 2006 when a Hillcrest Church staff member learned about a similar campaign and sought to try it in Moose Jaw. In its trial run that year, 35,786 lbs. of food was collected.
In 2023, the drive raised 44,216 lbs. of food and was supported by just over 400 volunteers. One year later, those figures grew by 8,560 lbs. and 215 volunteers in 2024 as the campaign continues to gain momentum.
“We haven’t passed 50,000 lbs. since before the pandemic, so we were really excited to see that,” Richardson said. An additional $11,269.84 was collected through online donations — despite that portion of the campaign not being heavily advertised.
Volunteers covered 43 routes and even “a bonus route.” Teams first met up at the Hillcrest Church for 5 p.m. and by 9 p.m. — or earlier in many cases — everyone was busy sorting.
Sorting may also be at its peak efficiency. “When you walk in now, you’ll never see piles of food (and) you won’t see tables overflowing with food waiting to be sorted,” she said. “They were just snatching it up so quickly they could barely unload the vehicle fast enough.”
The food bank would typically have to close down for the day, but with ample volunteers and a spacious new facility, the essential service was able to keep its doors open without interruption. By noon on Nov. 1, everything was already delivered and in the warehouse.
Richardson said the community appears to have become more aware of the food bank’s importance, especially since the pandemic. A staff member at the food bank also said residents have been responding more to specific needs including diapers.
Richardson wished to thank everyone involved in this year’s drive on behalf of the Hillcrest Church. “We could not do this without you,” she said.
“To the City of Moose Jaw, you just continue to blow us away with your generosity. We know food drives happen all the time and many people are regular supporters of the food bank, yet they continue to give again and again.”
Richardson also wished to thank the sponsors who helped make the drive possible, including semi drivers with Nutrien and Moose Jaw Co-op Agro and forklift operators from South Country Equipment.
“It’s one of our favourite times of the year, just to see that generosity and to be able to be the ones to channel it to the food bank and bless them in that way. So thank you very much.”
To learn more, visit HillcrestMJ.com/FoodDrive or call the Hillcrest Apostolic Church at 306-692-5600. The Hillcrest Apostolic Church is located at 1550 Main Street North.
The Moose Jaw & District Food Bank is located at 270 Fairford Street West and can be reached at 306-692-2911.
