The Meadow Lake Food Bank is expressing gratitude after receiving more than 15,000 lb of food donations in December. (Elliott Knopp/meadowlakeNOW Staff)

By Elliott Knopp

Food Bank

Meadow Lake Food Bank receives outpouring support from community

Dec 21, 2021 | 3:47 PM

After learning about a local non-profit organization’s challenges, the Meadow Lake community came together to offer an abundance of support throughout the holiday season.

The Meadow Lake Food Bank is thanking the community for its generosity after numerous businesses, groups and organizations held food drives to help the non-profit meet the increased demand for service.

Shelves at the food bank are lined with supplies after several organizations, groups and businesses offered support. (Elliott Knopp/meadowlakeNOW Staff)

In an interview with meadowlakeNOW, executive director Natanis Bundschuh said the outpouring donations brought on by a recent call for help exceeded all expectations.

According to her estimation, the food bank received more than 15,000 lb of food throughout December, and the donations are still coming in on a daily basis.

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“I grew up in Meadow Lake, and I’ve always found it to be a really generous community,” she said.

“Whenever we put out a call, there’s always a tremendous response.”

Shelves at the food bank are lined with supplies after several organizations, groups and businesses offered support. (Elliott Knopp/meadowlakeNOW Staff)

Along with the overwhelming food contributions from local schools, hockey teams, churches, RCMP and businesses, the non-profit also received a significant monetary donation from Métis Nation—Saskatchewan to the sum of $20,000.

The financial aid helped Outreach Ministries meet their budget demands in a year where monetary contributions suffered a notable decline.

“That’s literally almost a quarter of the budget that we were missing for this year. The amount of donations has just shrunk so much from the first year of COVID.”

With the tremendous response fulfilling the food bank’s needs for the remainder of the year, Bundschuh explained the next challenge is maintaining their inventory for more stability.

The organization is set to explore the return of fundraisers and food drives that can be organized in a safe manner while COVID-19 remains prevalent in the broader community.

Shelves at the food bank are lined with supplies after several organizations, groups and businesses offered support. (Elliott Knopp/meadowlakeNOW Staff)

Outreach Ministries recognized there are still shortages of winter clothes, including gloves, jackets and headwear. The organization is hopeful future contributions will meet the increased demand for those items brought on by extreme temperatures and a lack of shelter for the homeless population.

“Almost every single day, I get asked for something. Either gloves, mitts, socks, toques, jackets and boots sometimes,” Bundschuh said.

“There’s a few people that have been really struggling.”

Anyone looking to make a donation can drop off their contributions to the Door of Hope between regular business hours.

Monetary offers can be submitted online through Outreach Ministries website, or by e-Transfer at givehope@MLOM.ca.

Those using e-transfer are asked to please specify their name, phone number and address so a receipt can be issued.

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elliott.knopp@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @ElliottKnopp