PREECEVILLE — The Preeceville and District Filling the Gap has a new name: the Assiniboine River Hope Mission (ARHM).
The Assiniboine River, which flows through the large geographical service area, is the inspiration and reminder of how everyone is connected and needs one another, especially in difficult times, the group said.
This new name helps differentiate the group’s food distribution area from fellow food distributors in the Canora region, who also use “Filling the Gap” in their name.
“Our mission isn’t a place, it’s a battle against hunger. It’s a movement of people helping people to bring freedom from hunger and hopelessness. A statement we have adopted as our goal/mission/purpose is: to alleviate hunger today and eliminate it for the future. We pursue this through giving of ourselves and being good stewards of the incredible generosity of our communities. It is our joy to believe and live that it is more blessed to give than receive.”
The organization rallies around the old adage, “Feed a man a fish, you feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish, you feed him for a lifetime!” Why? “To put it simply in rural terms, ‘Because we give a rip.’”
The people in the area show their incredible care for each other in many ways, and this is just one of them. The mission relies solely on donations — with no government assistance — and there always seems to be “food in the pantry” to help others.
The committee is made up of local volunteers, with no paid positions, who organize efforts to bring much-needed help to surrounding communities. The executive consists of a chairperson, vice-chairperson, secretary and treasurer. Finances are audited annually, and the goal is to put all donations toward alleviating hunger. Some operating costs, such as phone bills and advertising, are unavoidable.
The organization has existed since the 1990s, and its mission has never wavered. It promotes its services within the community so those in need of food can reach out confidentially and find relief from hunger. The group operates year-round, delivering emergency hampers weekly, with a special push at Christmas when Christmas Hampers are distributed along with gifts and teddy bears.
The service area includes Buchanan, Endeavour, Hazel Dell, Hinchcliffe, Ketchen, Lady Lake, Okla, Preeceville, Rama, Rockford, Stenen, Sturgis and Usherville.
“Our donors are incredible,” the group stated. “Individuals, groups, businesses and churches donate non-perishable items, perishable goods such as ground beef and eggs, monetary gifts, children’s gifts and teddy bears. This mission goes nowhere without incredibly generous people.”
There’s more good news for the mission. The group has been given the use of part of the former co-op building to work and serve from. The space will provide much-needed room for sorting and storage, especially during the Christmas Hamper season.
Special thanks were extended to Chris Bilesky and local co-op members for working hard to make this happen and for graciously donating the use of the facility. This allows the group to keep the vast majority of monetary donations focused strictly on food distribution.
“Thank you to Welma for the space we have been occupying in her building over the past few years, and to the Town of Preeceville for your gracious financial help over many years.”
The mission also has a new mailing address:
Box 726, Assiniboine River Hope Mission, Preeceville, SK S0A 3B0.
