Imagine a world where nobody goes hungry.
Grow Hope connects urban and rural communities to share in the risk and reward of farming in Saskatchewan.
Grow Hope Saskatchewan started with a collaboration between Canadian Foodgrains Bank, MCC Saskatchewan, and the Dioceses of Saskatoon Catholic Foundation (or Saskatoon Roman Catholic Diocese) in the winter of 2017 to find creative ways to engage more people in the effort to help end global hunger.
Two farmers agreed to help kickstart the project with a total of 160 acres designated to the project. In 2022, five farm families have agreed to designate farmland to the project bringing the total to 300 acres amongst five farm families.
For over 40 years, many people have donated funds to the Foodgrains Bank through one of 15 member agencies to support emergency food distribution to those affected by disaster or conflict in developing regions, to help vulnerable communities grow more and better food to feed themselves and their families in sustainable ways, and to provide nutritional support to malnourished people.
The Grow Hope model is a creative way to encourage both rural and urban dwellers to share the risk and work together to raise funds through a collaborative growing project that includes numerous farmers and donors across Canada, including here in Saskatchewan.
In addition, the Saskatchewan project is an ecumenical effort between three partner agencies: Mennonite Central Committee, the Saskatoon Catholic Diocese, Development and Peace, and Canadian Baptist Ministries to raise funds for the Canadian Foodgrains Bank. Grow Hope Saskatchewan continues to invite other Christian denominations to be a part of the project and raise funds for their respective member agency of the Foodgrains Bank as part of this collaborative effort.
The motivation behind the project is based on a sense of God’s invitation to participate in the work of restoring humanity’s relationship to God, to each other, and to creation. We believe that sharing of our abundance with those whose lives are vulnerable due to food shortages is part of that restoration, and it has been part of our mission for a long time. In our scriptures, the prophet Isaiah encouraged people to “Feed the hungry and help those in trouble. Then your light will shine out from the darkness, and the darkness around you will be bright as noon.” (Isaiah 58:10). Jesus of Nazareth taught and exemplified that same vision so we see Grow Hope Saskatchewan as a practical way to participate in that work and extend the table. We do this in the name of Christ.
Representatives from CFGB, MCC, RCDOS and D&P pose together at the 2019 Grow Hope Saskatchewan Field Day in Rosthern, SK.
Coming together to help feed people around the world.
When you support Grow Hope Saskatchewan, you are supporting Canadian Foodgrains Bank projects around the world. Funds raised through Grow Hope Saskatchewan will support projects like this agriculture and livelihood program in India. MCC is working with partner Disha (Hindi word for “finding the right path or direction”) to build opportunities for women and families who suffer from poverty and hunger. Because of this project, women in 12 villages in Odisha India were able to learn about water and soil conservation, mushroom cultivation, goat and poultry raising and more. Their new skills are boosting their nutrition and income and helping them make the most of their land.
Basanti Toppo tends to the compost outside of her home in the village of Tangrani. While organic matter from this compost increases the yield of her crops, CFGB matched funds from the Canadian government multiply the effects of your donation.