Peavey Mart closure has ripple effect on Regina community organization

WATCH: The pending closure of Peavey Mart stores is a blow to Sask. communities but is also affecting community organizations. Wayne Mantyka explains.

The pending closure of Peavey Mart stores is having a ripple effect in the community.

Regina’s Al Ritchie Community Centre had recently ben awarded a $10,000 Peavey Mart grant to rejuvenate its community garden and help with its food education programs.

“And lucky enough I’ve got CEO of Peavey Mart and other staffers sitting at this table and they’re like, ‘This is more of a formality but we’re here to tell you that we’re giving you the award for one of the ten grants across the country,’ so super happy,” Denis Simard, executive director of the Al Ritchie Community Association recalled.

Peavey Mart has since gone into creditor protection and cannot meet the commitment. Now, the community group is seeking other funding.

• Peavey Mart confirms closure of stores across Saskatchewan, rest of Canada

“Honestly we feel super bad that everybody’s lost their job and everything else but for us $10,000 is significant,” Simard said.

It comes as demand for nutrition programing skyrockets. Four years ago, the organization helped 50 households annually. Now it’s closer to 3,000.

“What we’re seeing now is new Canadians coming in and they arrive in Canada with nothing so anything we can do to help them, we do,” said Jessie Jenkins, a group home worker.

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The Al Ritchie Community Centre is also a place that other organizations turn to for help, such as finding clothes for new residents.

“So, I thought I would help and find some clothes for her as she’s new and doesn’t have much. I give them five stars. They’re very helpful,” Jenkins said.

The community association is appealing for donors to fill the financial void created by the loss of Peavey Mart funding.

“They are absolutely amazing because of the free shop, the dignity that people can have, come in, take what they need,” said donor Christine Van Der Merwe.

Peavey Mart was well known for serving rural communities and now the Al Ritchie Community Centre hopes that a farmer or rancher can step up to help them.

It says something as simple as a truck load of manure would go a long way toward rejuvenating the association’s community garden.