Grocery Run Program

Grocery Run is a food access program operated by the MCHB in partnership with Multicultural Family Resource Society, Edmonton’s Food Bank and Leftovers Edmonton Foundation. Working together, Grocery Run provides weekly, essential grocery hampers to newcomer and refugee families experiencing chronic poverty in Edmonton.  

Grocery Run emerged from a research initiative conducted in partnership with the University of Alberta ENRICH and Community University Partnership. Newcomers are some of Edmonton’s most marginalized yet most resilient citizens. They are disproportionately impacted by systemic inequities: job and income loss, lack of affordable housing, precarious work conditions, and public health restrictions. For more information see our Advocate Page on knowledge mobilization for the 2017 CUP Impacts and full research paper. 

Grocery Run aims to:  

  • provide nutritious and culturally appropriate food hampers, focusing on fresh fruits, vegetables, and culturally relevant pantry essentials to multi-barriered families and seniors experiencing chronic poverty; 
  • leverage community partnerships for food rescue and local food procurement, such as the Edmonton Food Bank and Leftovers Edmonton Foundation, local food producers;  
  • amplify the lived experience of newcomer populations disproportionately impacted by food insecurity and advocate for more inclusive and just service delivery & policy intervention. 

Community Support 

Grocery Run uses a combination of food rescue and local food procurement. 50% of hampers are made up of food donations made possible by partnerships with the Edmonton Food Bank and Leftovers Edmonton Foundation. Through strong working relationships with local food producers and local businesses we also purchase fresh fruits and vegetables at an affordable price to ensure each family receives adequate and nutritious food. 

Our Team 

The Grocery Run is operated by a strong team of more than 60 community volunteers. Each week, a team 15 to 20 volunteers assemble over 500 food hampers by processing donations, portioning and packing the food. Our volunteer delivery team then delivers directly to our families located across the city. 

Thank you to the University of Alberta Alumni Association and the Winnifred Steward Society for connecting us with so many incredible team members. 

Join us. Donate, volunteer or spread the word!

Every contribution makes a difference. Many hands make light work. 

The good people of MCHB helping package goods for the Grocery Run program.

MAKE A DONATION

For other in-kind contributions such as produce, or dried goods please contact us: 

VOLUNTEER WITH US

  • Grocery Run Hamper Team
    • Thursdays 9:30AM-12:00PM 
    • Located at the Edmonton Intercultural Centre (9538 107 avenue) 
    • Tasks include: processing food donations and removing any mouldy or inedible food items, portioning food items, assembling food hampers, assisting with clean up i.e. breaking down boxes, sanitizing tables, sweeping floors, removing garbage.
    • Register here 
  • Grocery Run Delivery Team
    •  Thursdays OR Fridays ~2 Hours BETWEEN 11:00Am-5:00PM 
    • Delivery routes take ~2 hours to complete (1 hour of driving time, 1 hour of communication with families) 
    • We do our best to design delivery routes to begin at the EIC building and end near or in the direction of the volunteer drivers home. We try to keep delivery routes are consistent every week.
    • We ask delivery drivers to commit to a minimum of 2 months to delivery on a weekly basis on either a Thursday or Friday. This is in effort to maintain and protect the privacy and confidentiality of the families we serve and for volunteer convenience. 
    • Register here 

SPREAD THE WORD!

  • Follow us on Instagram: MCHBGroceryRunYEG 
  • Our program relies on the support of community, please help spread the word about this work to your networks. Click on the links below to download our prepared communications assets to share on your social media platforms!    
    • Share our GoFundMe
    • Share our call for volunteer packers
    • Share our Call for volunteer drivers

“During the lockdown and COVID 19 crisis, many people lost their jobs causing a lot of stress and bankruptcy in the community. People were not able to feed their families, pay their bills or rent. Thankfully, the Grocery Run program of the Multicultural Health Brokers was able to support the families at this time. Currently, I have six families accessing the program on a weekly basis. The Grocery Run program provides long-term nutritional needs with diverse approaches to meet the unique needs of our community. The quantity of food and the emphasis on nutrition has helped the beneficiaries and they look forward to it every week.”   ~ A MCHB Cultural Broker who supports Edmonton families from Sierra Leone 

Other Important information: 

  • How to Access: All of our families and community members accessing the Grocery Run are connected to a MCHB Broker. Contact our office for more information and eligibility 
  • Email: mchb@mchb.org  
  • Connect with our team! 
    • Email: groceryrun@mchb.org 
    • Phone us! 780-217-5449