A new partnership announced Feb. 25 is set to bring a steady supply of locally produced lentils and chickpeas to the Moose Jaw & District Food Bank, as Simpson Seeds commits to providing monthly shipments to support families facing food insecurity.

The announcement was made at the food bank, where executive director Jason Moore confirmed the first delivery had just arrived.

“This is fantastic,” Moore said. “It will definitely go a long way in helping support the mission that we have here to end hunger in our community.”

Moore said the added pulses will help the organization respond to shifting dietary needs.

“The food bank is seeing a rise in newcomers,” he said. “A lot of these individuals aren’t familiar with the products you typically receive at a food bank, such as dried pasta. We’ve been looking for opportunities to provide culturally appropriate foods like chickpeas and lentils — items they’re used to working with to meet their dietary needs.”

He noted that requests for these items are consistent.

“So every month we have people asking specifically for chickpeas or lentils, whether they’re from the Middle East or countries in Africa, so we know the need is there,” Moore said. “We’ve identified how much we think we can use to start with, and we’ll monitor that over the next few months.”

The partnership will begin as a one-year pilot project, allowing both organizations to evaluate how the monthly shipments meet demand. Moore described the collaboration as promising, noting that Simpson Seeds has expressed a strong commitment to supporting the community and advancing access to nutritious food. He said the food bank’s mission aligns closely with the company’s values and voiced optimism that the relationship could continue well beyond the initial trial period.

Moore said the collaboration comes at a time of sustained growth in demand.

“In four years, the number of visits has increased by 150 per cent,” he said. “Post-COVID, we were at around 400 visits per month, and today we’re over 1,000. We have more than 50 new sign-ups each month, which are numbers we’ve never experienced here at the food bank.”

He added that most new applicants are working-class families with steady employment who are struggling to keep up with rising costs.

“The majority of the people we’re seeing now are working families who just aren’t able to pay the bills and need some support,” Moore said.

Elyce Simpson-Fraser, president and CEO of Simpson Seeds, said the idea for a structured partnership grew out of a conversation with Moore.

“Jason (Moore) reached out to me directly, and we had a conversation,” she said. “As it evolved and we discussed the needs and what we could do, it became clearer what we could offer and how we could help.”

Simpson-Fraser said the company will begin by supplying lentils and chickpeas — products processed at its Moose Jaw facility — and review the program as it moves forward.

“We want to help feed people in our own backyard and do what we can to support people in our city,” she said. “We’re nourishing the world — that’s our core purpose — and we’re feeding people globally with the products we produce here. It should also be done in our own backyard.”

Moore said the food bank welcomes similar conversations with other local businesses.

“We really appreciate business leaders in the community who are willing to support causes like this,” he said. “We would put the challenge out to other similar organizations to come alongside us and support the community. We would welcome you with open arms.”

Donations to the food bank can be made online at MJFoodBank.org/donate, while volunteer applications are available at MJFoodBank.org/volunteer.

The Moose Jaw & District Food Bank is located at 270 Fairford Street West. For more information, visit MJFoodBank.org, email EndHunger@MJFoodBank.org, or call 306-692-2911.

Aaron Walker

Reporter

Moose Jaw Express