Making connections never stops at Mustard Seed KELLEN TANIGUCHI


Outreach programs in Medicine Hat have been serving the city’s most vulnerable and those in need throughout the pandemic regardless of the COVID-19 restrictions at the time.


The Mustard Seed has served its guests indoors and at times from the back of a trailer outside. Guests stop by in the morning for a meal provided by the organization and Murray Kumm, spiritual of care chaplain, says the relationships built are just as important as the meal.


“We can serve food to people, just hand them a plate and let them go and not say a word to them, but that’s really not what it’s about,” said Kumm. “ … We’re still serving the meals and that’s important because people need food, but I think having some sort of relationship with our guests is important.”


Kumm often is on the frontlines serving the meals to the community. He says since they’ve moved to their new location on Allowance Avenue, they serve about 65 people per day. Since the Mustard Seed began operation in the Hat, they have 1,200 guests on their master list with around 150 identifying as being homeless.


The Mustard Seed wouldn’t be able to operate without its volunteers, says Kumm. It currently has around 175 active volunteers and he says they help in many ways including peeling potatoes, washing dishes, picking up grocery orders and serving people.


“Without the volunteers, there is no way we could run this program and it’s vital. The volunteers are the real heroes and it’s so easy to work with volunteers when you have such an incredible group of volunteers,” said Kumm.


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Murray Kumm, spiritual care chaplain, and Colette Eirich, managing director, have been making sure the Mustard Seed’s morning meal program has continued throughout the pandemic and they say it wouldn’t be possible without their volunteers.


Colette Eirich, Mustard Seed’s managing director, says the volunteers are committed to help the community and some even dedicate certain days of the week to help out. She adds the volunteers show up regardless of how high the COVID-19 numbers in the city are.


“We have amazing volunteers. A lot of our volunteers have come because I know in their heart they want to serve the guests,” she says. “When they come every day you just know their heart is in the spot where we all are and so that just makes it easier because they’re compassionate and here to serve.”


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