"It's for everyone and anyone in need," says James Fayvel, Executive Director of Winnipeg's Bear Clan Patrol.

The food distribution drop-in at the Bear Clan's North End headquarters. It started with Fayvel purchasing a couple of bags of oranges and apples to hand out on patrol but has now grown into so much more. With partners from Crampton's Market to Costco, the drop-in hopes to feed the community with no questions asked, just food and a smile.

"It's giving people something to look forward to and contribute to and it makes them feel like a stakeholder"

"We are open every day. It gives them the opportunity to take what they need for the day and if they need to come tomorrow, then come back," Favel says.

While Winnipeg’s North End might often be portrayed in a bad light, Favel says the drop-in shows just how close the community is, and how eager the people are to serve and help each other.

"The community members are so resilient that when the truck pulls-up loaded with groceries, we don't even have to ask [for help]. We have people in line come running over to help ... it's just sharing the experience of providing, and that's a fantastic effect that we weren't expecting. It's giving people something to look forward to and contribute to and it makes them feel like a stakeholder," says Favel.

One day, a young couple came in an hour early to the food drop-in, began to volunteer, and have now worked every single day since that arrival. Through volunteering, they have also been provided work placements facilitated by Bear Clan. There are many stories like theirs, including the new coordinator of the food distribution program, Cristina Coelho, who began as a volunteer.

"It's nice to see people get food and stuff they need and to get a smile on their face and not be hungry at the end of the day," Coelho says.

Sherisse Kirkby, a mother in line at the drop-in who lives in the area says this is the hardest time for her family and she came to the Bear Clan because she needed to. "I'm just trying to get food, and [the drop-in] is a good resource for the North End."

Twenty tons of produce and baked goods were handed out in the first year. In 2018, that number grew to 62.5 tons. This year, the Bear Clan projects to hand out over 120 tons of produce and baked goods. 

"Nothing goes to waste in our community," Favel says. Even though they have doubled the amount of food collected and distributed, the drop-in needs more donations and partners.

"It doesn't matter how much food we bring in, there's always someone who comes late and doesn't get anything. I hate that, that's the worst part for me ... we are always struggling to make sure there's enough for everyone and sadly we are having a hard time meeting that mark," Favel says.

Favel and Coelho hope that more donations and partners will come forward to help feed this need but for now they are doing everything they can with what they have.