The Regina Food Bank has seen a 10 per cent increase in registration this summer. Although a greater number of people are relying on the service in order to keep food on the table, donation numbers were lower this summer than past years. Regina Food Bank CEO Mary Weimer says there are multiple factors contributing to the public’s rising need for food security. Especially as the world continues to experience rising costs across the global economy. “Food continues to cost more, gas costs more, rent costs more, and so peoples salaries aren’t necessarily able to keep up with the growing costs.” Weimer said. The Regina Food Bank is facing a year-over-year growth in responsibility to bridge the gap of food security in the city. To combat the increasing challenge, it has partnered with Mosaic for the seventh year, launching this year’s Million Meals Challenge. The goal is to raise $400,000 in the Regina area in order to fund one million meals distributed by the Regina Food Bank. Weimer says the initiative does more than just provide funding. “It’s not just about donations, but it’s the school presentations, the food drives, the corporate challenge. It sort of reaches into so many different pockets of the community,” Weimer explained. The program is one Mosaic says it’s proud to put forward. One of the leaders in global potash production for crop fertilizer, Mosaic says its role in providing global food security doesn’t stop them for caring about the food security in their own backyard. “Seven million meals raised over the last seven years. I think it motivating for our community to be challenged to do the same,” said Marnel Jones, Mosaic’s director of government and public affairs. “... Now is a very important time for us to get behind this initiative ... our community needs us.” Mosaic will be matching donations for the drive up to a total of $75,000. Any donations made by employees under the Mosaic umbrella will have their donations doubled. Just one dollar donated will equal three meals funded for those in need, in hopes of not letting people go hungry this Thanksgiving.
