A recipe for connecting community

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This article was published 07/09/2022 (1206 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

BY CODY SELLAR

STAFF REPORTER

WESTWOOD

ST. JAMES-ASSINIBOIA

Vegetables and broth can go a long way toward building a community.

Soup has been at the heart of Bozena Osiecka’s connection to her neighbours for about two years. The 67-year-old Polish expat regularly brews soups, and sometimes makes pastas, to distribute among residents of her 55-plus apartment building on Country Club Boulevard in Westwood.

“This is very low income building … It is very hard for them, and they got very happy the first time, so I say, OK, I will do whatever I can do. And that’s where the idea came in to make meatballs and spaghetti and soup,” Osiecka said.

Through the approximate 40 to 50 meals she frequently makes and distributes, Osiecka has found connections throughout the building.

“I practically know everybody, and they know me,” she said.

While Osiecka cooks the food by herself, mainly due to limited kitchen space, other residents have banded together to help her deliver the food to various residents.

“I’m happy with it. They like my soup and my food, so why not?” she said.

Osiecka uses food through a “food security network” for the St. James-Assiniboia area called Nourishing our Neighbourhood. The network drops off food at the building, as well as at other community drop-off sites, and Osiecka was determined that it would all go to good use.

“I came from Poland, and we don’t waste much. I was really hurt to see, so much food was waste,” she said.

But Osiecka said she benefits from making the food, too.

“I think you should have more interest to doing something during old age — not just to sit and wait for the ambulance,” she said.

Martina Gornik-Marion and Kathy Perrault of Nourishing our Neighbourhood said the network relies on volunteers, as well as food banks and other community partners.

Perrault said food is dropped off at several buildings, including Osiecka’s, and that food is distributed to residents. Osiecka uses leftover foods to treat her neighbours to meals. A tenant co-ordinator at the building also keeps a store of emergency foods from the donations that has already come in handy.

“One time, somebody came home from the hospital, and (the tenant co-ordinator) was able to offer food to her and the lady literally cried. She didn’t have to try to organize something or try to call someone when she’s sick,” Gornik-Marion said.

Gornik-Marion said while the idea for the network began in 2019, it wasn’t until last year that things got underway. By then, the pandemic had already strained more households’ budgets and created more food insecurity across the city, including in their St. James-Assiniboia area. Now as food prices inflate, the problem is only getting worse, Gornik-Marion said.

“Most of the places we drop off to, they only have about $10, 20 left to spend on groceries,” Perrault said.

Perrault encourages anyone who wants to help to contact her at 204-223-0934.