Grocery access program launched at Morse Place Community Centre in Elmwood

The grocery access program was launched this weekend at the Morse Place Community Centre in Elmwood, offering low-cost basic grocery items to residents. An initiative made possible largely by the work of the late city councillor Jason Schreyer, who passed away in late April.

“Jason would have been very excited to be here, it’s unfortunate he can’t be. He actually hauled a lot of the food you see in this room with his own vehicle, he used to come to Safeway with me to do the grocery hauls, and he was very passionate about the cost of food and bringing it down in the community, the prices, and creating more accessibility for everybody,” explained Christian Sweryda, the project manager.

The program will run every first and third Saturday of each month, from 1 till 4 p.m., providing local residents with a low-cost option for various food items like cereal, canned goods, chips, and juice. The program is also offering deliveries for bulk orders to schools and seniors homes in the area.

“We’re kinda trying to close that gap between the high cost of grocery stores and where people that are normally going to food banks,” said Sweryda.

“We buy these groceries for very low cost and then we pass those savings onto people in the community, we don’t do a means test, anyone can participate, but its especially targeted to people that are struggling with the price groceries but are still going to the grocery stores as opposed to food banks.”

Janice Lofendale, a shopper, says, “Prices have gone up very, very much, not all justified. I don’t think, I think grocery stores know they can get away with it and do it. But yeah, it’s handy, you can walk here, lots of variety and great prices, like great prices.”

While Lori Mager-McMillan, another shopper, says, “We love it because it’s affordable, and it’s great. The produce, everything is good. The food is great.”

While Councillor Schreyer sadly couldn’t be there for the opening, community members are greatly appreciative of the work he did to make this program possible.

“He did a wonderful job, and god bless him up there, and year. We’re just so thankful,” said Mager-McMillan.

Lofendale adds, “I believe that when people know, when they pass away, they know what’s going on, so I think he knows, and I think he’s very happy and proud.”