MOOSE JAW — “The Five-Foot Food Challenge” is a new local project aiming to help the community by supplying fresh, locally sourced produce for those in need and Moose Jaw’s Peavey Mart has now confirmed that it's on board with the challenge.
at the Moose Jaw Express with the goal of supporting the Moose Jaw & District Food Bank. The project challenges local gardeners to set aside five square feet of their garden space this year and donate that food to those in need – a gesture which comes in the wake of increasing grocery costs and rising dependency on food banks across the country.
One of the first official challengers is Peavey Mart Moose Jaw who immediately realized the benefit and knew it could do something to help.
“I thought that this is a great opportunity for us here at the store to become involved with the community and give back a little bit,” said Laurie Juric, the store’s manager.
“I talked to my assistant manager, Nicole Shaw, and she is (similarly) like-minded in wanting to give back, so we jumped on board and went ahead with it.”
Peavey Mart is setting a great example – exactly as McDonald intended – by using a low-cost means to grow food. By re-purposing a wooden shipping crate, utilizing some five-gallon pails and a large basin available for purchase at the store, Juric and her team are now growing carrots and tomatoes right on site.
The enterprise also sets a great example for the community as the paved asphalt terrain isn’t normally suited for gardening but the team made it happen regardless.
If you’re in need of pails, pots, or other containers, stop by the store and ask about a few options.
Support for the challenge isn’t a new precedent for the local retailer, who Juric said has a long history of finding ways to show its support for the community.
“As a team, we’ve always tried to rally behind anything that’s possible for us to get (on board) with… because we’re just trying to be involved as much as we can,” she said.
A handful of these past projects include meal deliveries for Hunger in Moose Jaw, hosting Â鶹ÊÓƵwest Daycare on site to help the non-profit sell tickets for its “Raise the Roof” fundraiser, and Juric said the staff at Peavey Mart holds a monthly community project akin to a barbecue to raise money for numerous local charities.
This level of support, Juric noted, is possible thanks to the cohesive and like-minded team at Peavey Mart Moose Jaw.
“The whole team… is all of the same mindset,” she said. “They get excited when we’re doing these barbecues. They get behind it all, supporting (the projects), purchasing the hot dogs, and volunteering their time.”
Similarly, Juric said this enthusiasm carries over to support the challenge and anyone can find a way to contribute.
“I mean, a couple packs of seeds are… like four bucks, (and it only takes) some dirt and a little bit of water.”
Peavey Mart Moose Jaw is located at 23 Thatcher Drive and is open Monday – Friday from 8 a.m. – 9 p.m., Saturdays from 8 a.m. – 6 p.m., and Sundays from 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. You can contact Peavey Mart at 306-693-9696 or visit .
To learn more about the Five-Foot Food Challenge and find out how you can benefit from , contact Krista at 306-694-1322 or by email at [email protected]. Be sure to stop by the challenge's official Facebook page, '.'
If you or your organization is interested in joining the challenge, please call McDonald for more information and to receive complementary signage. Together, let’s help feed the community.
