By Kiply Lukan Yaworski, Catholic Saskatoon News

After a season of dry growing conditions and lower-than-normal yields, the 2021 harvest of Grow Hope Saskatchewan fields is complete – but there is still time to donate this month, in order to have funds raised to help feed hungry people around the world matched four-to-one by the federal government.

“This year we saw a lower-than-average yield because of the dry weather conditions facing our participating farmers,” says Myron Rogal, Justice and Peace coordinator in the Roman Catholic Diocese of Saskatoon, one of the ecumenical partners involved in the Grow Hope Saskatchewan project.

“Off-setting that lower yield, however, are higher prices – and the great response from donors to the Grow Hope Saskatchewan plea to ‘help boost our yield’ in 2021.”

Rogal notes that there is still time to donate to cover the input costs of the Grow Hope farmers, ensuring that the higher donation will be matched by government.

“Every acre sponsored at a cost of about $300, can feed up to 125 people for a month,” he said, noting it is possible to donate any amount, to support less-than or more-than a single acre.

How it works: Generous farmers in Saskatchewan have donated land and agreed to grow a crop for Grow Hope Saskatchewan. It costs $300 per acre to provide seed, fertilizer, fuel and other inputs. Donors from all walks of life are invited to sponsor a partial acre, full acre or multiple acres to help cover these costs. After harvest, the farmers sell the crop and donate the proceeds to Canadian Foodgrains Bank. The federal government matches these donations at four-to-one.

To learn more about Grow Hope Saskatchewan or to make a donation directly to this year’s project, go to www.growhopesk.ca before Nov. 26, 2021.

This month also sees a unique local fund-raising effort in support of Grow Hope Saskatchewan, as a hand-crafted blanket goes up for auction at the Cathedral of the Holy Family in Saskatoon.

Members of the Catholic Women’s League (CWL) and the Craft Guild at the cathedral parish together gathered materials, created and donated the blanket, which features images of vintage farm tractors, to be auctioned off in support of Grow Hope Saskatchewan.

The creation of the blanket evolved as a team effort, says Holy Family CWL co-president Mary Kehrig, who sewed the blanket.

The project was inspired by local CWL member Willie Glasman who earlier this year initiated a motion for the parish CWL to donate $300 to Grow Hope Saskatchewan, says Kehrig. It was also inspired by an earlier donation of a farm scene print by artist Jill Mitchell, which is an ongoing fundraising effort for Grow Hope.  Copies of the print as well as printed cards can be ordered by contacting the artist at jillmitchell@sasktel.net

 

Kehrig describes how the cloth vintage machinery panels were donated by CWL member Andrea Willenborg, whose mother-in-law gave it to her from her surplus, which includes material from her mother-in-law’s friends, who regularly visit specialty material shops in Victoria and Edmonton and gift her with purchases. The green fleece backing for the blanket was donated by CWL member Teresa Field from extras collected by Holy Family Cathedral’s Craft Guild.

The blanket is on display during the month of November at the Cathedral of the Holy Family, 123 Nelson Road, Saskatoon, along with a sheet on which to write bids.

“The starting bid is $200,” says Rogal, expressing gratitude for the creativity and commitment of all those involved. “I encourage people to stop by to see the beautiful blanket and perhaps make a bid in time for Christmas.”

Bids can also be made online at: LINK or via e-mail to Rogal at the Catholic Pastoral Centre: mrogal@rcdos.ca or call him for more information (306) 659-5841.

Related article: “Grow Hope Saskatchewan begins another growing season, working to end global hunger around the world”

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