Just like Old Mother Hubbard not having food in her pantry in that classic nursery rhyme, Riverside Mission is also facing bare cupboards and needs the community’s support.
The non-profit organization announced recently that its coolers and freezers — and bank account — are nearly bare and need refilling. Some of the main staples it requires to feed its clients include hamburgers, ham, potatoes, rice and pasta. Leftover food will not be accepted.
Donations of food-related supplies can be dropped off at 40-42 Manitoba Street East from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday to Friday at the back door. Financial offerings can be made online at
www.shrmsk.com.
July and August are normally challenging months — along with January and February — since donations of money and food dry up, said Joe Miller, executive director of Souls Harbour Rescue Mission. This depletes existing resources, even though the need to feed people remains.
Similar to other charitable organizations, Riverside Mission has faced an up-and-down situation throughout the pandemic, he continued. It had a surplus of food last year — partially thanks to federal funding — that it shared with other food security groups. However, its shelves soon became bare and it had to ask for food.
“Right now, we’re in need, (but) in three months we could have a surplus and we could be sharing. This is where we’re at right now,” Miller said, adding the double whammy is that people are spending more time outside after being locked up inside for a year, which means less attention is given to the organization.
Regina-based Souls Harbour Rescue Mission — which oversees Riverside Mission — recently received nine pallets of cherries, which is far more than it can use on its own, he remarked. So, it gave one pallet to Riverside Mission and distributed other pallets to food agencies throughout southern Saskatchewan.
During the past year, Riverside Mission has seen an increase in clients accessing its lunch and support programs, with 50 to 70 people coming for lunch and up to 100 people stopping by for supper.
“People need food. Funds are drying up. The cost of living is going up,” said Miller. “I think food prices have been rising. Almost every bill that crosses my desk — whether it’s insurance or anything — has gone up … .
“One thing COVID has done (is it) has driven up a lot of things. Food is part of that. I think people are being forced into making tougher choices. And it’s tough to stretch a dollar as far as you can.”
Riverside Mission has set a tentative date of Monday, Oct. 18, to allow clients into the building to eat. However, the organization is in no rush to do so and wants to ensure a safe environment before providing sit-down meals.
Construction update
Miller expects ground to be broken on the new multipurpose centre in the spring of 2022.
The site at 218 and 218 River Street West has been levelled, the zoning application has been approved, and the environmental assessments have been completed. The organization is now working with planners to develop and tweak the building’s design.
The new centre will have 30 suites of affordable housing, including six rooms dedicated to men going through addiction treatment. In addition, Riverside Mission will be given a bigger space to support clients. It will also receive a new kitchen, men’s shelter, and an expanded clothing giveaway program.
The building will also act as a food distribution centre for southern Saskatchewan.
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