Harvest Service
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The Winnipeg Harvest service activity is on every Wednesday of the week and takes place in the basement of the Sai Centre. It starts with the receipt of food sent to the Centre by truck. The window of receiving can vary between 12 to 1:30 pm. It is quite challenging to receive and unload the food items as they have to be transported to the basement. We generally have a group of three volunteers, especially retired devotees, to carry out this activity. Once the food is received and arranged on the tables, this group of volunteers leave.
Another group of volunteers usually six in number arrive around 6:45 pm on the same evening and make arrangements to distribute the food items. There is usually a line up outside. In case of inclement weather these recipients are allowed inside the facility as early as possible. The service starts at 7 pm, where the food items are distributed in an orderly fashion to about 60 registrants. Items can vary between milk, infant formula, hygiene items, canned food, biscuits, vegetables, fruits, onions, potatoes and bread. After 7:30 pm the surplus over food is distributed to walk ins. The service activity is typically completed by 7:45 pm. Then begins the task of clean up. The Centre lobby, stairs, bathrooms, aisles and dining areas are swept and mopped by the devotees. This usually ends between 8 and 8:15 pm. Six groups of devotees are rotated every Wednesday for this wonderful service activity. This is another activity that is carried out selflessly by the Centre devotees for several years and is very fulfilling. |