'24 in 24': Sask. woman's initiative collects almost 750 kg of food for the community

Children and seniors in the community of Qu'Appelle, Sask., excitedly packaged up food hampers this holiday season. 

The town and surrounding areas were challenged to donate 24 items in 24 hours to the town's seniors club, which makes food hampers for those in need every holiday season. 

Aimee Proskie spearheaded the 24 in 24 initiative. She said her goal in life is to give back to the town of Qu'Appelle, located about 50 kilometres east of Regina, as much as she can. She and her partner Ryan Demyen recently took over the town's grocery store and work there together.

"We just want to live a peaceful life, helping our community, working in our community," Proskie said.

Bringing produce back to the community

Proskie said there were some big shoes to fill when taking over the store. The space operated as a movie theatre from 1944 to 1957 before local man Bill Wilson took it over and turned it into a grocery store, Wilson's Supermarket.

Proskie said everyone from the community has fond memories of buying groceries from Wilson's. Proskie's partner even worked there as a teenager.

"It was almost the rite of passage for people to have to work here," Proksie said. "People, when we first started doing this, were coming in and telling us [about] when they worked here, what happened and how their shifts went."

She said the store never returned to its former glory after Wilson died. It became more of a convenience store than a place to buy fresh groceries. 

Proskie and Demyen took over the store, now known as Double TT, in May, bringing fresh produce back to the community. They also added a cafe to the space and are now known for fresh soups. 

Proskie left her job as a social worker to run the business. She said her background encouraged her to think outside the box for ways to give back. 

Campaign has a 'domino effect'

Proskie started the 24 in 24 campaign on a Monday. It quickly took a life of its own. 

"By Wednesday it was out of control," Proskie said.

In eight days, the town had amassed 13 overflowing carts full of groceries, which amounted to almost 750 kg of food.

"It was beyond anything I could have ever thought of," Proskie said. "I thought, 'OK there's like six to eight businesses in town and we'll get a couple things.' Never in my wildest dreams did I expect that we would have that much support."

Thirty-six businesses and individuals made donations. 

 "I've lived in Qu'Appelle for nine years [and] I did not know half the businesses that were in the town," Proskie said. "It was amazing just to be able to showcase our businesses."

Proskie and her partner collected the donations at their store, then local Grade 5 and 6 kids hauled everything over to the 50+ club and helped the seniors sort them. 

"It took a little bit of pressure off us to get these food hampers together," Loretta Bergman, one of the co-ordinators with the 50+ Community Food Bank, said. 

Enough for the holiday season and beyond

Bergman packaged everything into hampers with the help of Christine Weisberger and Shirley Priddell.  The three women run the food bank together. 

"They get a full basket that'll fill the cupboards up, give them a Christmas meal," Bergman said. "And [it] gives us enough donations to keep going, so that through the year when people are in need, they just get in touch with us and we help them out."

The 50+ club recently expanded the service. Anyone facing food insecurity in the surrounding municipality can use it. 

Proskie said she has created other initiatives with the local school, fire department, senior complex and daycare. She wants to use her social work expertise to building up the community any way she can. 

"Maybe we could just make this an annual thing," Proskie beamed. "When groups work together, you can get so much more accomplished."