DIDSBURY - The Essentials for our Community (EFOC) support organization will be making a temporary move from the municipally-owned historic train station to the Redeemer Lutheran Church at 1500 - 23rd Street for the month November to accommodate renovations at the station, says president Sheree Andrews.
EFOC is a non-profit society and registered charity that provides a free Connection Kitchen suppers every Thursday 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. for families and individuals in the community in need of support.
The organization also provides gift vouchers for recipients to purchase food at grocery stores.
“Local businesses sponsor the cost of these nutritious meals, and regularly donate produce, dairy and bakery items to help supplement our families’ daily needs,” she said.
Those receiving vouchers (up to $200 a month) have to show they are doing some kind of volunteer work in the community, she noted.
The weekly suppers will continue to be served and vouchers will continue to be handed out during the temporary re-location to the Lutheran church, she said.
“It is important for people to be able to find where we are,” she said. “Meals are anyone who experiencing food insecurity and/or loneliness and isolation. It is for people in need.”
The plan and hope is that the EFOC will be able to move back into the station in December.
“The town is renovating the station so we have to be out of there for a month,” she said. “They have told us we can come back.”
Established in 2015, EFOC has been operating from of the station since 2019.
“The town gives us that space for free,” she said.
EFOC is currently looking for volunteers and sponsors, she said.
Anyone seeking further information, including on how to volunteer and/or sponsor, can call Andrews at (403) 586-3174.
