269 Stadacona St. West was a hive of activity on Friday. One group was busily preparing over 170 lunches, while another was working away on construction and repair.
Hunger in Moose Jaw (HIMJ) is getting a makeover courtesy of the Mosaic Belle Plaine plant employees.
Mosaic workflow superintendent, Rob Bonneau and carpenter planner Ed Konihowski took it upon themselves to make Hunger in Moose Jaw’s aging building safer and more suitable for employees and clients.
“What happened was about two months ago we had a leadership forum with Mosaic people from different sites who got together for reviewing and team building,” Bonneau told the Times-Herald. “People were split up into different projects and some volunteered at Hunger in Moose Jaw and said ‘we should try to do more.’”
With help from the Moose Jaw business community, Mosaic employees loaned their time and skill to co-ordinate with local contractors to update the electrical wiring, install new interior, exterior and safety lighting, remodel the front and back entrances and pour new concrete sidewalks. These were just some of the repairs made by the good Samaritans.
“Our main goal was to get their working conditions improved and make Hunger in Moose Jaw a safer work environment,” Bonneau said. “We wanted a more functional curb for deliveries and there were water issues in the basement in need of repair.”
“Rob said, ‘we just want everyone to have a safe place to work,’” HIMJ executive director, Carol Acton said about the initial planning with Bonneau. “Some people said it couldn’t be done, but we’re just overwhelmed by the support we’ve gotten from Mosaic. There doesn’t seem to be anything they can’t do.”
Acton mentioned along with interior and exterior repairs, the children’s playground was also repaired along with stairs and railings around the building.
For more on this story pick up the next issue of the Times-Herald.
