This month, our spotlight is on Moosomin Food Share (A.K.A. Southeast HealthAbility Society Inc.) in Moosomin, Saskatchewan!

If you’ve seen one food bank, you’ve seen … one food bank. Food Banks Canada collaborates with a network of over 5,500 organizations, each of which serves a community with distinct needs and operates in its own way. 

A shared set of values and best practices underpins this healthy diversity: every network member upholds Canada’s Ethical Food Banking Code. And now, each one is also working toward accreditation through Food Banks Canada’s Standards of Excellence. 

Some food banks have already completed this journey. This month, we’re celebrating Moosomin Food Share (A.K.A. Southeast HealthAbility Society Inc.

What inspired you to be an early accredited organization? 

Pursuing early accreditation was our way of showcasing a commitment to excellence, accountability and steady improvement. We wanted to set a strong foundation not only for our organization but for the entire network of food banks.

Describe your approach to reaching accreditation. 

Being a small food bank, we broke down the standards into manageable sections and worked through it one at a time. 

What was your first step in the process? 

Our first step was to do a thorough self assessment. We needed to have a clearer understanding of where we stood before we could go forward. That helped us prioritize what needed our attention immediately.

Which standards were most manageable to meet? Why?  

The standards related to Governance and H.R. were the most manageable for us. Simply because this was an area where we already had strong practices in place thanks to a board member who committed her time on providing these in a manual.

What/which standards did you find daunting?

Section 5 and 6 were daunting as a lot of the policies that we needed were new to us as we are a smaller food bank.

How did you overcome this? 

By seeking guidance from other food banks and advisors. We also micromanaged by breaking down the policies one by one and slowly worked through them. Then as we got one down, we would fine tune it.

What surprised you through the process? 

How detailed everything was. It started as a checklist but evolved into a deeper reflection of our organization and policies. It helped us articulate our mission and impact more clearly.

What advice would you offer to other organizations seeking accreditation?   

Start early and staying organized in key. Also to treat it as a learning opportunity. And don’t be afraid to ask for help whether it’s from another team member, a board member or advisor.

What value does reaching accreditation provide to your organization? 

Being accredited means we are operating at a higher standard than prior. It gives our community, volunteers, donors and staff members confidence that this is the work we should be doing. 

To the food banking system? 

Being accredited promotes consistency, strengthens networks and ensures we are all working towards a foundation of excellence and integrity. Being accredited doesn’t benefit just one food bank, it raises the bar to the entire food bank network.