A motion to provide a $10,000 grant to the Martensville Information and Visitor Centre (MIVC) to organize and operate a Free Pantry in the municipally-owned Civic Centre building was approved by Martensville City Council at a meeting on Tuesday, July 20.
Earlier this spring, city council endorsed an allocation of $20,000 in the civic budget for the establishment of a food bank in Martensville.
A request to the city from the MIVC to undertake the food bank initiative was received by city council at a committee of the whole meeting on July 13. At that meeting, most councillors appeared to favour the MIVC request.
Council passed a resolution to provide an initial $10,000 in funding. A second $10,000 payment will be made to the MIVC after three months of successful operation of the free pantry.
An informal ‘free pantry’ established by some Martensville residents had already been operating in the Civic Centre for several years with the tacit approval of city council. MIVC volunteers assisted patrons of the free pantry.
However, the COVID-19 pandemic last year essentially shut that informal operation down. The request by the MIVC is aimed at revitalizing and formalizing the free pantry.
Direct funding from the city was requested because of growing demand for a food bank service in Martensville, according to a report to city council.
Martensville Economic Development Officer Dillon Shewchuk said the informal free pantry was successful in getting food into the hands of needy families. But, he added, there is a need for a more formal, organized structure.
The City of Saskatoon provides direct funding to the Saskatoon Food Bank and Learning Centre (SFBLC), according to SFBLC Coordinator Laurie O’Connor.
“The City of Saskatoon allocates direct funding in the amount of $40,000 to the food bank, and also provides a property tax abatement on our building in the amount of $25,000 annually,” said O’Connor. “In addition, the city provides an additional $15,000 in separate program funding that we apply for on a yearly basis.”
Saskatoon also provides the SFBLC access to city-owned vacant land for garden plots.
In Warman, a food bank has been operated for many years by churches in the community. The Warman Food Bank does not receive any direct funding from the City of Warman. Donations from the community are encouraged.
In the past year, a free food pantry was established in the Awakening Church building in Warman.
According to Gina Funk, secretary of the church and coordinator of the Warman Food Bank, the pantry has been well-received by patrons, allowing families in need to obtain food items during hours when the church is open.
“We saw a sharp increase in use at the beginning of the pandemic,” said Funk. “It’s levelled off now, with demand becoming more stable. There are still a lot of people who need help, though.”
The Warman Food Bank receives donations of food from residents, and also food products originating at the city’s two grocery stores.
Funk said the Warman Food Bank has received numerous inquiries from residents of Martensville needing food over the past year.
“There is a need for a food bank in Martensville, without a doubt,” said Funk.