After seeing children eat food from a trash can in a park, two Spruce Grove Rotarians vowed “not in my community” and made it their goal to improve the food security of children and their families. That day in the park was the beginning of what is now “Our Community Pantry” (the Pantry).
Thanks to St. Andrew’s United Church in Spruce Grove, the Pantry has the professional kitchen, storage space and amenities to operate all our food programs from one location. This facility along with our dedicated volunteers, financial donors, and community partners, allows Our Community Pantry to improve the food security of children and their families by providing a school lunch program, family meals, food rescue, and summer food programs.
School Lunch Program
Too many children in our community attend school hungry, often arriving without having breakfast and without a lunch. When children are hungry they struggle to learn, and their overall health is compromised.
Providing lunches to children at school supports our belief that education and good health are essential for children to reach their full potential. In partnership with Parkland School Division (PSD), our 100% volunteer powered team, prepares and delivers nutritionally balanced lunches weekly to 22 schools.
Each lunch includes:
- a spoonful of love.
- a sandwich, made fresh the morning of the delivery.
- one piece of fruit.
- carrots with dip or a Pantry made cookie.
Family Meal Program
Our family meal program provides meal packages to community agencies for weekly distribution to families experiencing food insecurity. This food support along with agency services helps these families achieve positive change.
Each weekly meal package includes two balanced family meals consisting of:
- frozen main dishes and our ‘famous’ fruit delight, both prepared using food rescue, donated, and purchased ingredients.
- food rescue produce and baked goods.
In 2023 our volunteers prepared 2442 meals and rescued 5712.25 kgs of food. This dedicated group runs the entire family meal program and all have obtained the Alberta Health Food Safe, Food Safe Certificate, with five of the volunteers having broader food handling education and supervisory certificates.
“Rotary, Our Community Pantry” is 100% operated by Rotarian and Friends of Rotary volunteers.
The Rotary Club of Spruce Grove is a busy club with lots of opportunity for others, as new members or as “Friends of Rotary”. We are also a friendship club where community builders gather to support our community. We pride ourselves in living up to our motto: “Service Above Self”. To find out more about our Rotary Club, please email info@sprucegroverotary.org