‘Jason would be ecstatic’: Morse Place Community Centre launches grocery access program

A well-organized display of grocery products at Morse Place Community Centre’s new grocery access program. (Zach Kitchen/CTV News)

Access to groceries in Winnipeg’s Elmwood neighbourhood may have just gotten a little easier.

On Saturday, Morse Place Community Centre launched a new grocery access program aimed at tackling food insecurity and lowering grocery costs in the Elmwood and East Kildonan areas.

“It’s especially important in this neighbourhood because there’s very limited access to grocery stores,” said Chris Sweryda, project manager for the initiative. “This program offers two components: lowering the cost and increasing accessibility.”

Operating out of three basement rooms at the community centre, the program offers pantry staples such as soup, cereal, canned goods and pasta sauce. Items are purchased at low cost and sold below retail prices.

“We try to get the prices as low as we possibly can,” Sweryda said. “When we get a really good deal on a particular item, we’ll stock up and try to buy a few months’ worth to ride out between sales and create a stable, low price for the community.”

The initiative was inspired by the late city councillor Jason Schreyer, who was a strong advocate for affordable food access.

“Jason would be ecstatic,” Sweryda said. “He absolutely loved providing services for the community, and food was a very big passion of his. He personally brought a lot of the food into this building that we’re selling here today.”

No means test is required to access the program, which is open to all community members.

In-person shopping is available on the first and third Saturday of each month from 1 to 4 p.m. A delivery service is also offered, focusing on seniors’ housing, low-income complexes and schools. Community members are encouraged to help with deliveries and coordination.