Food Security in Brandon Manitoba
Karen Maisonneuve is a community and family services worker at the Salvation Army in Brandon, Manitoba. She oversees the food bank and the Neighbours Helping Neighbours hydro assistance program. She recently took some time to share about how her work supports her community.
The food bank program is available to neighbours facing food insecurity once a month. Clients call on Tuesdays to book a next-day pick-up appointment. When a client first signs up with the food bank, Karen will discuss any allergies or special dietary requests a family or individual may have. She does her best to accommodate or substitute as she is able.
“They would call on a Tuesday morning, between nine and noon, and they would get an appointment time for a Wednesday pickup. I pick up donations on Tuesdays from Coffee Culture (a local coffee shop) and on Wednesday mornings at Co-Op, so everything is here. Clients can pick up their hamper on Wednesday afternoon, along with produce, pastries and bread.”
Karen says that while in past years food bank usage would surge as the holidays approached, they are now seeing consistent year-round demand. She says she wishes more people in the community knew about the food bank services, not only so that more people could receive the support they need, but also so they could get a more consistent flow of donations.
“There’s one couple that regularly gives every month, seven or eight bags of groceries that they’ve personally bought. They started donating through the Adopt a Family many years ago, and said, ‘What else do you do?’ I explained about the food bank, and it started with a couple of bags, and has progressed over the years, which has been nice.”
The Neighbours Helping Neighbours (NHN) program is a one-time hydro-bill relief program for families who do not receive government assistance. Karen helps clients register for the program and connects with them to see whether they have other needs that The Salvation Army can support.
Donor Testimonial
“The Salvation Army has always been an organization that we respect. We appreciate their willingness to work with everyone regardless of race, beliefs, status or needs. We have always had a soft spot in our hearts for anyone hungry or cold, especially children. We have, for many years, enjoyed participating in the Adopt A Family program. A good day for us is knowing as we shop for food, clothing, or small Christmas presents, and monthly food bank purchases, we are giving some less fortunate people a helping hand. By donating through The Salvation Army, we assume the dignity of the recipient remains intact, and we have made at least a small difference. Since our children have become adults, we have been able to do more and don’t see any reason to stop in the future. Shopping for items and dropping them off is an outing we both enjoy and lets us feel like we are helping. We also know exactly where our money is going. Karen makes it all work well, and it has been a pleasure working with her. In truth, we have found all the staff at Brandon Salvation Army very pleasant and accommodating.”
Lorne & Barb
