(rdnewsNOW file photo)

By Josh Hall (Twitter: @Vancan19)

serving the community's most vulnerable

The Mustard Seed marks five years serving Red Deer

Jul 5, 2021 | 5:16 PM

The Mustard Seed in Red Deer is celebrating five years on Monday and throughout the summer.

The agency replaced Loaves and Fishes at its current home in Riverside Meadows in 2016, and has since provided nearly 246,000 meals to those experiencing poverty and homelessness. That averages out to about 135 daily.

The Mustard Seed and its many dedicated volunteers have also provided more than 273,000 meals to children through the School Lunch Program, which now provides nutrition to kids in seven central Alberta communities.

“Thank you, thank you, thank you Red Deer and central Alberta! We are so thankful that we have been able to care for so many families and individuals across Central Alberta over these past five years,” says Byron Bradley, Managing Director for central Alberta.

“Many people rely on us as a support system, and we can only care for them because you support us. Thank you for enabling us to care for all those impacted by poverty, who come to us looking for hope and support.”

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But the work is only just beginning, Bradley says.

Five years from now, he expects an affordable housing project led by The Mustard Seed to be operational in Red Deer.

“We also look to continue to grow our support for people, and that means focusing on growing our community support centre and beyond the current location. We’re hoping to grow out our health and wellness centre, which currently offers a doctor, chiropractor and addictions counsellor, but we want to add more services there,” says Bradley.

“Also, we really hope to be part of the new permanent shelter plan and operations. We’ve been part of that discussion since those funds were announced.”

Bradley expects news on that front by end of the year.

To date, more than 41,700 volunteer hours have been given to The Mustard Seed in Red Deer over five years, and more than 13,250 visits have been made to the on-site health & wellness clinic.

Meantime, meal schedules are ramping back up to normal following the lifting of COVID restrictions.

“We wouldn’t be where we are without generosity from the community,” Bradley concludes. “We’re very appreciative to be able to care for the most vulnerable people in Red Deer and beyond.”

More information is at theseed.ca and on The Mustard Seed’s Facebook page.