A Saskatoon couple, Rob and Joanne Dudiak, have turned their front yard into a garden and food box, offering free food for anyone in need in their community.

Community members can also drop off non-perishable items at their custom-built community pantry during spring and summer, while frozen food is welcome during the winter. The small community garden is located at the corner of 115th Street East and Forest Drive, right across from École Forest Grove.

The couple started this initiative in 2019 to give back to their community, especially to people in need. What began with just a food box has grown into a yard full of seasonal fruits, vegetables, and herbs such as berries, apples, cucumbers, lettuce, carrots, onions, dill, and thyme. Rob got the idea to start this initiative at a meeting of the École Forest Grove School Community Council, when he learned that many in the neighbourhood struggled with food security.

Children, students, and community members help support the garden and food box, while local groups have donated bread, food, and even money. Over time, neighbours and even strangers have dropped off food, volunteered, or left thank-you notes. Despite challenges such as bad weather, vandalism, and food waste being dumped, the couple plans to keep the garden going for as long as possible.

Source: Jon Perez, Sasktoday