As of February 1st, the Martensville Food Pantry (MFP), along with other local food hamper programs, will be implementing a change aimed at ensuring food support reaches as many families as possible amid rising demand and limited donations.
The decision was made after communication with other local food charities revealed that some individuals were accessing multiple food support services at the same time.
The policy change is being introduced due to the growing number of people seeking assistance and the strain on available resources. The local food hamper programs will be in communication with one another to ensure this policy is followed and families are not utilizing multiple resources.
“Due to the increasing number of people in need and limited donations, individuals will be required to choose one food charity to receive support from,” a social media post by Hand Up Cupboard in Warman said. “Accessing all three will no longer be allowed.”
The post also noted that, “Our services are intended to help as many people as possible during times of need. Using multiple food charities reduces the resources available for others who rely on this support.”
“For those families that just use the Martensville Food Pantry there will be no changes or affects,” Linda Ward of the MFP said. “For those that use multiple Food Banks they will have to choose which one they would like to use.”
Currently, the Martensville Food Pantry supports between 15 and 25 families each week. “They are not the same families,” Ward said. “We have given service to over 100 families throughout the years. Some request occasionally; while others request biweekly.”
The pantry operates with the help of 18 volunteers, all of whom donate their time. Ward also shared an update on current supply levels. “We have had tremendous support over the holidays,” she said. “At the present time we still have ample non-perishables. Fresh vegetables and fruit are always in short supply as well as fruit juices.”
Ward took the opportunity to thank the community for its ongoing generosity. “We are so very thankful for the support of this wonderful community; individuals and businesses.”
Ward also reminded donors to check expiration dates before donating, as expired items are not included within the food hampers.
For those interested in supporting the MFP, they can provide charitable receipts for donations of $20 or more.
For hamper requests, residents are asked to call (306) 280-1255, and to be mindful of the time when contacting the pantry unless it is an emergency, as the organization is entirely volunteer run. General inquiries can be sent to martensvillefoodpantry@gmail.com.
