It’s common knowledge that the Moose Jaw and District Food Bank accepts non-perishable food items, and donations can be accepted at a number of drop-off locations around the city including one at Safeway and one at Superstore.
Now, after relocating to its new, larger venue on Fairford Street West, the Moose Jaw Food Bank has the means to accept perishable food items as well.
“We absolutely will take it – even frozen veggies, frozen food, frozen perogies – we take anything frozen as well,” confirmed Deann Little, development and warehouse manager.
“We have a walk-in fridge and a walk-in freezer, so we accept any of those products,” she explained.
The new venue comes equipped with ample space for a multitude of donations from this category, and there’s still plenty of space in a separate cold-storage room for non-perishables.
There is one caveat, however: perishable food donations must be brought directly to the food bank, located at 270 Fairford Street West.
“If anybody is bringing grapes, oranges, potatoes, carrots – whatever it may be – those perishable items need to be brought right here directly to our food bank, but we always do take it,” Little reaffirmed.
“A lot of people think we only take non-perishables, we don’t. By all means, we love fresh perishable items. We just don’t want perishable items to be put in our donation bins (like the ones) we have at Safeway or Superstore,” explained Little, with a friendly reminder not to add fresh garden produce, dairy products, meat, or frozen goods to any donation bins.
Since the food bank lacks the resources necessary to check and empty drop-off bins in a timely manner, perishable food items would spoil in the non-insulated containers.
Most of the perishable food donations received by the Moose Jaw & District Food Bank currently come from local farmers and gardeners, plus a few Hutterite colonies in the area including the nearby Baildon Colony.
“We’re talking not just one Hutterite colony – there are several, from Regina all the way to Swift Current. We get Hutterite colonies (from all over) coming to bring us garden produce, which we are really grateful for,” Little said.
“The Hutterites have always been giving to our local food bank here for years. In particular, fresh garden produce is what they bring to us,” she added. “Those fresh vegetables really make our food hampers more nutritious and healthier.
“We’re really thankful for that, and… (we’re thankful) to all the local gardeners and farmers that brought us extra produce over the summer months… that was just amazing. Our clients really enjoyed having that fresh garden produce,” Little said.
If there is ever doubt about a possible food bank donation, it’s best practice to call ahead and confirm that the item is currently being accepted.
The local food bank is open from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Monday and Tuesday, and again on Thursday and Friday of each week.
The Moose Jaw & District Food Bank is located at 270 Fairford Street West and can be reached at 306-692-2911.
In response to some providers blocking access to Canadian news on their platforms, our website, MooseJawToday.com will continue to be your source for hyper-local Moose Jaw news. Bookmark MooseJawToday.com and sign up for our free online newsletter to read the latest local developments.
