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The Mustard Seed latest recipient of generosity from 100 Men Red Deer

Jun 7, 2017 | 4:29 PM

The Mustard Seed is receiving a generous donation from 100 Men Who Care – Red Deer.

The approximate donation of $10,000 will help The Mustard Seed continue its work to supporting adults experiencing poverty and homelessness in our city.

Issues the group sees as being some of the biggest facing homeless men and women are exposure, dehydration and malnourishment. Throughout the year the call is put out for basic items including towels, water bottles, and hygiene items.

Byron Bradley, Central Alberta director of the Mustard Seed, said the donation from 100 Men will go a long way to help with the core programs including the school lunch program.

“With the help of volunteers we make and deliver up to 363 lunches every school day,” said Bradley.

The money will also go back in to the community through the Mustard Seed’s other programs.

“We have an advocate who provides one on one supports to people maybe helps them get reconnected to family or navigate the mental health system or maybe get their I.D. back or maybe whatever barriers people may be experiencing that has them facing poverty and homelessness, she just sits down and helps them,” said Bradley.

Bradley said the donation is an excellent boost for the Mustard Seed and that it means a lot for the continuation of work that they do in the community.

With the summer months approaching, Bradley said a huge need in the community is just bottled water for people who are outside in inclement weather.

“A big need is always bottled water. We want to go around and hand it out in stacks to people, so cases of bottled water is always a great practical need for us,” said Bradley.

Bradley said their street level team does outreach in the community and with their summer intern starting they can expand where they can do outreach in the city.

The Red Deer College Foundation was the last recipient of donations from 100 Men in March of this year.

100 Men meet again on September 11 to choose another charity to donate to.