“It's something difficult to do,to come to the foodbank,” said Evelyn Cerda, VP of Impact and Partnerships atthe Regina Food Bank. “We want to serve [people] the best we can, with dignity, providing them with choice and with healthy foods that they can really enjoy.”
Food insecurity is growing across Canada. “It could be your neighbour and you just don't know about it, it could be someone in your family that's not talking about it,” Evelyn shared, “but for the most part I think some of the most vulnerable demographics in our community — like children, single moms and elderly — tend to be more high risk.”
In August 2024, the Regina Food Bank opened the BMO Asahtowikamik (“Food Lodge” in Cree) Community Hub, Canada’s first large-scale choice-model food bank. People can walk through, pick what they need, check out and have their items bagged like a regular grocery store.
“There’s a lot of families who have allergies to certain food items. Some people are gluten-free,” said Chantel Obey, Manager of the Community Hub.
Having the freedom to choose ensures families can find food that is right for them. This not only allows people to make choices that suit their needs but also reduces food waste.
Additionally, the Food Bank also supports eight schools in Regina, providing sandwiches and salads during the school day, pantry items for families every other Friday, and snack packs with fruits, vegetables and granola bars for weekends.
Partnerships with businesses like Loblaw Distribution Centre 34, facilitated through the Second Harvest Food Rescue App, are crucial in keeping shelves stocked and programming running, providing between 20,000 to 50,000 lbs a week of nonperishables, protein and fresh produce. This consistency is essential as demand rises.
“You’ll see a lineup of people, and having the consistency of donations every day from Second Harvest really helps us know that we’re going to have something for them,” shared Evelyn. The ability to choose food, shop as a family, and count on community support offers comfort and stability in uncertain times.
“We’re community-led, and you can really feel it—the love from the community," Evelyn reflected. "It’s really good to be doing something that matters, something that can help someone who really needs it. You don’t know, it might be the one day that you really made a difference in someone’s life.”
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