The Mustard Seed's Murrray Kumm shows visitors the kitchen renovation taking place during the Harvest Takeaway event on Saturday ( Tiffany Goodwein/CHATNewsToday)

By Tiffany Goodwein

The Mustard Seed’s Harvest Takeaway event aims to support city’s vulnerable

Oct 3, 2020 | 6:00 PM

MEDICINE HAT, AB- On a given morning chaplain Murray Kumm works out of a utility trailer at the Champion centre and hands out breakfasts to those in need. Each meal comes with a hello and a wellness check to see how they are doing. It’s there, according to Kumm when the stories come out. The stories of struggle and victory, from getting off the streets, to an even simpler victory, a meal or an ID.

“ We’ve had 750 different people on our master list since March 15. About 150 maybe even more now identify as homeless when I ask them for an address or phone number,” said Kumm.

The need has become even greater with the pandemic with some coming who have never accessed services before or identified as homeless.

“ We see a lot of people that are just down on their luck. Single-parent families who got hit hard when schools closed because they can’t afford daycare, they have no one to look after their kids so they can’t continue to work,” said Kumm.

Since the start of the pandemic, the need has increased substantially.

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“Pre-COVID-19 we were serving around 40 to 45. Last Friday alone we served over 137. The need is strong. We have homeless right now on our list I think we have 151 listed as homeless so we do have it here in Medicine Hat, and you know we want to just give them that feeling of hope. There is a second chance to a life of independence,” said Colette Eirich, Managing Director , Mustard Seed Medicine Hat.

With the need strong, The Mustard seed is looking to complete their kitchen renovation at their Allowance Avenue location by early November.

The kitchen renovation is nearly 50 percent complete.

The completion of the kitchen will allow those in need the ability to come inside and receive breakfast, a soup for lunch and other supports.

“ Alot of the people that we feed come and get their meals and then they go home, but a lot of them just cross the alley and sit on the concrete and eat their meals right there. I don’t want to see them out them out there when it is 20 below,” Kumm said.

The goal is to create a community hub with a health and wellness centre downstairs. The Champion centre where breakfast is served currently will be converted into other resources to help guests.

To raise money, The Mustard Seed hosted its’ first Harvest Takeaway event. Donors had the opportunity to purchase a vegetable harvest soup kit put together by the local Chef Carl Augustino of Shooting Star Events, South Country Co-op Medicine Hat, and other local food producers. A mini farmers market also took place and guests had the opportunity to learn more about programs and services being offered by The Mustard Seed. More information about The Mustard Seed and how to help can be found here.