A significant grant has been awarded to Glenboro’s new food security program from the Government of Canada.   The $75,000 Emergency Community Support Fund was recently awarded to Sara’s Pantry, the local initiative that had just gotten off the ground this month providing food hampers distribution.

Karen Burton is the Marketing & Community Relations Specialist at Westoba Credit Union and a Sara’s Pantry Committee Member. 

“We were all in total shock when we got the news about our approval, said Tracy Rimmer, Sara’s Pantry Chairperson. “We couldn’t have asked for a more positive result; this funding has set Sara’s Pantry up for success for many years to come.”

Being a ‘start-up’ food pantry was a factor in receiving the federal grant, says Burton.  “We really had nothing, and we were looking at donations only.  I think the Government of Canada has really recognized the stress that has been put on existing food banks through COVID-19.  So, having a new food bank in a community that didn’t have one before, I definitely think that was an attribute for us.”

Sara’s Pantry is located in the back of Rimmer Technology on Railway Avenue, the space which Tracy Rimmer has graciously offered to the new food bank. The funds from this federal grant will first be used to bring the operating space up to safety standards, starting with the entrance upgrades to meet accessibility requirements. Inside the food pantry, storage solutions for food and necessities, and stocking the shelves, will soon follow.

“We have already started servicing our community needs, and we don’t even have the doors on yet,” joked Charlene Claeys Godard, Sara’s Pantry Operating Manager.  “Our priority is access to healthy food first; the rest will fall into place as we determine what other needs exist,” said Godard.

Burton says their partnership with the local UCT in December for the Cheer Board hampers helped to get the word out that they were ready to start helping local families who needed the extra support.

“We are starting with the essentials and taking our time to strategically look at what makes the most sense for the community of Glenboro,” says Burton.

“We’re really looking at purchasing as much non-perishable food as we can, as well as essentials,” she adds.  “If money is tight a bottle of laundry detergent can be a real expense.  So, we want to make sure that we’re servicing all of the essentials that people need and as we get spending and looking at the costs we’ll know how long its going to last.  But really, this money has put the wheels in motion for Sara’s Pantry for several years to come.”

A dream in the spring of 2020 became reality in a relatively short time for a venture this size.  Karen Burton shares how the entire community got behind this project.

Sara’s Pantry started regular food hamper distribution this month and plan to continue their regular bi-monthly schedule where hamper pickup day takes place the first and the third Wednesdays of the month.   

Hamper registration can be made by email to saraspantry2020@gmail.com    or by direct message on the organization's Facebook page at @saraspantryglenboro.

Non-perishable food donations can be made at Glenboro Co-op, DNA Foods, Rimmer Technology and Westoba in Glenboro.