NORTH BATTLEFORD – In the early morning of Aug. 19, the Midwest Food Resource buildings were broken into and their grounds, including three garden plots, were vandalized.
Items taken included computer equipment, a printer, cellphones, a pump for the water cistern and various tools. Several surveillance cameras were stolen and others were damaged. As of this report, staff are still sorting through the losses.
Midwest Food Resource is a non-profit that promotes wellness and food security in the Battlefords. They grow food, run community kitchens that teach cooking and budgeting with local products, operate the Good Food Box program, rent out garden plots and provide gardening mentorship.
Executive Director Vesna Fa said the culprits were masked and either walked in from Territorial Drive or arrived on bicycles. They broke through a fence in a concealed area and moved through several buildings before cutting the wires to the main surveillance cameras.
“The reason we have the computer equipment here is so we can work on site instead of having to go back to the office,” Fa said.
The break-in left the buildings in disarray. Doors were damaged beyond repair and will need to be replaced. In addition to losing equipment, the organization’s security and client information were compromised.
“I didn’t expect this as we are a small non-profit community project that helps people," Fa said.
“We always try to keep it low cost and everyone is welcomed. This was like a heaven to everybody. It isn’t just about growing food; it was a community.”
Midwest Food Resource has operated in the Battlefords since 1997. Chairperson Claude Desnoyers said the board currently has six members, down from eight, and is always looking for new people who share their values.
Fa said the board will meet to decide on next steps. She encouraged anyone wanting to help by donating funds, tools, seeds or volunteer in the gardens to contact them.
“They can steal our tools but they cannot steal our community,” Fa said.
For more information or to offer support, contact Vesna Fa at 306-446-2684 or by email at director.mwfr@gmail.com.
