Volunteers make our city a better place

Fort Rouge

Harvest Manitoba, formally known as Winnipeg Harvest, is a not-for-profit organization which provides food and supplies to folks in need. Each month, the food bank supports over 100,000 Manitobans and usage of its services has increased 150 per cent since 2019, as costs of groceries and living essentials continue to increase.

Harvest Manitoba relies heavily on volunteers to help with day-to-day food sorting and distribution. It also relies on donations from large corporations such as Walmart or Superstore to provide supplies and food. These deliveries usually arrive at the Harvest warehouse in large boxes full of miscellaneous items which must be sorted for quality control and distribution. Harvest also supports an extensive Meals2go program for schools.

On a chilly morning a few weeks ago, approximately 30 Grade 9 Life Works students from Collège Churchill High School spent time volunteering at Harvest.

Our group was split into two. One group went into the classroom to learn about Harvest Manitoba, about who is most in need of their services and how to budget money and supplies properly as a young adult and in a family.

The other group went into the warehouse and worked on an assembly line for the Meals2Go program. They packed healthy foods, creating lunches to be sent out to different schools in the city. The two groups switched after approximately 90 minutes and in the three hours that the students worked, they packed 1,000 lunches for less-privileged students in our community. It was a rewarding and educational experience for the students and, as a teacher, I would highly recommend bringing your class for some volunteer time.

As our retired science teacher and environmental enthusiast Derek Sims used to say: “If we all do a little to help, we do a lot.”

If you require help from Harvest Manitoba, those making new requests are asked to call 204-982-3671; existing clients should call 204-982-3660. It you live outside Winnipeg call 1-800-970-5559 or email appointments@harvestmanitoba.ca

To make a donation or ask about volunteering, call 204-982-3663.