Winnipeg affordable grocery program marks first anniversary
Posted July 18, 2026 5:45 pm.
A community grocery program created in memory of former Winnipeg city councillor Jason Schreyer is celebrating its first anniversary after a year of steady growth and increasing demand.
The Jason Schreyer Memorial Grocery Affordable Access Program was launched last year to honour Schreyer, who represented the Elmwood—East Kildonan ward from 2014 until his death in 2024. The program provides affordable groceries to residents while helping ease demand on Winnipeg food banks.
“This means so much to me. It meant so much to Jason,” said Sarah Tena-Schreyer, Schreyer’s wife.
Organizers said the program has exceeded expectations, attracting enough participants to outgrow its original home at the Morse Place Community Centre. It now operates out of the gymnasium at St. Gerard School.
“We break records every time we run it,” said Christian Sweryda, organizer of the Jason Schreyer Memorial Grocery Affordable Access Program.
The volunteer-run initiative relies on as many as 50 volunteers and is seeking continued grant funding from the City of Winnipeg as organizers look to expand its services next year.
“It’s quite surprising how big we’ve gotten. And it feels really purposeful to be doing this,” said Sweryda.
The program is designed to bridge the gap between traditional grocery shopping and food banks by providing affordable food before families reach a crisis point.
“It creates a pathway to get from the food banks and creates a safety net before even applying to the food bank,” said Sweryda.
The program is open to the public on a drop-in basis on the first, third and fifth Saturdays of each month from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.
Brian Anchrom, who uses the program to help feed his family, said rising grocery prices have made it an important community resource.
“It’s just awesome. With the cost of food these days, coming here you spend $120 and you leave with almost $300 worth of stuff,” said Brian Anchrom.
“It really feeds the family. And what they do for the community is just amazing,” said Anchrom.
