Food Round-Up campaign asks Medicine Hat residents to fill food bank pantry. Courtesy/Tourism Medicine Hat

By Jayk Sterkenburg

IN THE COMMUNITY

Medicine Hat food bank delivering bags for residents to help fill pantry

May 27, 2025 | 7:00 AM

Medicine Hat’s food bank is delivering plastic bags to every house in the city in hopes that residents help fill its pantry.

The Root Cellar Food and Wellness Hub has started delivering the bags to homes — excluding apartment complexes and condos — as part of its Food Round-Up campaign.

Volunteers started bringing bags to residents last week and will continue until Thursday.

The food bank asks that bags to be filled with food or other basic needs for those who access the resource.

If filled, bags should be left in a visible spot on front steps by 9 a.m. on Saturday. The Root Cellar will take care of the rest and pick it up for those who contribute.

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The Root Cellar Food and Wellness Hub is sending out plastic Walmart bags. Kevin Kyle/CHAT News

For those who may not be home, bags can be dropped off at the Root Cellar Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. until 4 p.m. or at a grocery store food collection bin.

Melissa Mullis, executive director of the Root Cellar, said the food bank has been seeing way more people than its ever seen before.

“It’s the reality. We’re seeing more, and it’s not going to change anytime soon.”

Mullis said the food bank is excited the community can come together in a big way to help however they can.

“Our basic needs list has actually been stapled to the bag, so it just gives an idea of things that we really need,” she said.

Mullis said the food bank has recently seen more people than it ever has before. Kevin Kyle/CHAT News

The food bank lists items that are most needed as canned fruit, vegetables and meat, soup, pasta, beans, and other non-perishable foods, as well as hygiene items.

“It’s really nice to have variety, so when people throw in cookies and crackers and different things like that, it really helps people have some variety as well,” Mullis said.

“We welcome anything to be put in the bag.”

The initiative is powered by a huge volunteer effort.

“There’s over 30,000 houses, so it’s a really big army of people,” said Mullis.

“We’ve had lots of businesses step up and volunteer groups, so we’re just really grateful.”

Mullis said the annual campaign takes place at this time of year because the food bank notices resources become low.

“The whole goal of this event is to fill our shelves for the summer months,” she said.

Mullis said it’s okay if residents aren’t able to put a bag out this week. She said people can also donate through e-transfer or on the food bank’s website.