Food Bank reboot – Royal Canadian Navy pitches in

A before and after sequence of graphics illustrating the Mustard Seed Food Bank before HeroWork began a Radical Renovation of the facility over the weekend and an artists depiction of what the new Mustard Seed Market will look like when work is completed in early November.

Peter Mallett, Staff Writer ~

Sailors from the base rallied around Victoria charity HeroWork over the weekend as it embarked on another renovation of a local charity.

Three teams of approximately 20 volunteers each from HMCS Ottawa volunteered their time to HeroWork’s latest ‘Radical Renovation’ project at The Mustard Seed Market Food Bank on Oct. 11, 13 and 14.

Volunteers from Base Logistics were also on scene with members of Ottawa last Wednesday and Thursday for the demolition and gutting process at the facility located on Queen St.

The sailors were mostly performing demolition and carpentry work on the $500,000 project aimed at converting Mustard Seed’s food hamper program and warehouse into a facility that, when it is completed on Nov 4, will closely resemble a grocery store.

Since it was founded in 2010, HeroWork has contributed close to $3-million worth of non-profit renovations in the Greater Victoria region. HeroWork Founder and Executive Director Paul Latour says that he has traditionally depended on volunteers from the Canadian Armed Forces as an important part of HeroWork’s projects.

“CFB Esquimalt and the military continue to step up and deliver, bringing large groups of strong, smart and cooperative people to bare on our projects,” said Latour. “They do this at key times as the first weekend of a Radical Renovation is always important to push things forward and get the job done.”

Latour says the main intent of the latest renovation project at the food bank is to reduce food waste and increase the dignity of recipients receiving food. Mustard Seed’s current Food Hamper Program serves approximately 5000 people per month.

It involves volunteer members putting together pre-wrapped boxes of food for its clients but items outside of recipient’s normal dietary choices often go unused.

“Being able to choose the food you want is a more successful model so we are gutting the warehouse and transforming it into a food bank that has the look and feel of a real grocery store,” said Latour.

Some of the work scheduled for completion during the renovation will include extending the upper floor of the building over the warehouse, the installation of large coolers, replacing the heating system and furnaces, and the running of new electrical lines.

Lieutenant (Navy) Colin Dudeck, a Marine Systems Engineering Officer on Ottawa, spearheaded his ship’s recruiting effort and has been involved as the Base liason during past Radical Renovations. It’s the first time he’s helped recruit volunteers while onboard a Canadian warship and said things went better than he expected.

“It’s been an awesome process, I did a few presentations and sent out a few emails and we had tons of people volunteering right away,” said Lt(N) Dudeck. “That’s because they realize that many people in the community are struggling to make ends meet and this is a good opportunity for members of the military who have been more fortunate to give back and help get people back on their feet.”

Other Department of National Defence organizations are also stepping up to the plate on the HeroWork project. The Boomer’s Legacy foundation is contributing a total of $20,000 to pay for supplies in both of HeroWork’s 2018 projects in support of the Mustard Seed. Operated by Canadian Forces Morale and Welfare Services (CFMWS) through the Support Our Troops program, Boomer’s Legacy distributes funds to people in need both domestically and abroad.

In June a $10,000 donation helped HeroWork pay for supplies to build a food rescue kitchen at the Food Rescue Distribution Centre.

HeroWork is currently taking up a food drive to stock the shelves of the new food bank and is reaching out to area businesses and citizens for donations.  For more information or how to volunteer on this and other future projects visit the HeroWork website at: www.herowork.com