Essentials for our Community has a bigger kitchen and more storage space in its new location at the Lutheran Church in Didsbury.
President Sheree Andrews points out that things are getting a little easier for them now that they have a permanent home. She says “the kitchen is about twice the size and so we are able to move around in there much easier and it feels a lot safer because we aren’t bumping into each other with hot pots. The space for seating for the community, it’s wheel chair accessible. We don’t have to worry about stairs here and the community can come and go much easier. We’re able to put out more groceries because we have more space. So we are able to acquire more groceries to give out every night.”
Andrews explains how they help out those in need each week. She says “on Thursdays we give out vouchers for people needing extra groceries from the stores. We give those vouchers from 11 until 1pm on Thursdays there at the Lutheran Church, going to the back door. Then our meals are at 5:30pm and that is every Thursday and we are continuing that on throughout the whole year.” She says they had a fantastic December serving on average 100 people each week and for their Christmas dinner they cooked up just under 200 meals.
Andrews notes that 2025 will be a big year for them when it comes to fundraising. She says “moving forward we’re going to be needing to step up our fundraising because there’s an additional cost to our program renting the facility here at the Lutheran Church. We’re looking for new and creative ways to fundraise, to gain support, and to be able to handle the program so we can keep doing the things we are doing and helping people.”
Learn more or help support them by visiting the Essentials for our Community Didsbury Facebook page.
Listen to 96.5 The Ranch’s Community Hotline conversation with Sheree Andrews.
