Community-Based
Many Hands Resource Centre is a community-based charity in Morden, MB.
In 2012, a group of community members from the Morden area came together around a concern for the growing number of local individuals and families who were really struggling to make ends meet. At a community-wide forum on food security issues and poverty, the group was encouraged by advice from David Northcott, Executive Director of Winnipeg Harvest, to “just take your vision and start something.”
The vision of Many Hands is to be a non-profit organization that supports community members in and around Morden who are facing various challenges in accessing food, shelter, and meeting social and spiritual needs.
Many Hands Resource Centre officially opened in 2013 with a physical location at 400 Stephen St. in Morden. This space, envisioned as “community living room,” provided an opportunity for individuals to connect with other people in the community during drop-in hours. The Centre also contained a food pantry, offered computer access, and assisted individuals in connecting with other local programs and resources. The drop in closed temporarily and reopened at 500 Stephen St. Many Hands continues working hard to make food and other resources available to local families and individuals facing access barriers.
Current Focus
Many Hands currently focuses their resources on providing food access through Community Meal, Community Kitchen, Morden’s Food Bank, the Farmer’s Market Voucher Program and the BAG Program (Better Access to Groceries)
In the summer of 2020, during the Covid-19 pandemic, Many Hands partnered with Direct Farm Manitoba to bring the new Farmer’s Market Voucher initiative to the Morden area, with funding from the Emergency Community Support Fund through the Morden Area Foundation.
This program was a collaboration between farmers, markets, and community organizations, which aimed to increase free access to fresh local foods. This offering resonated with local Mordenites – the program saw a wait list by early July, and served up to 80 individuals and families per week.
Many Hands also saw an increase in interest in their community meal during the Covid-19 pandemic, seeing an increase from 75 to over 200 participants when the program shifted to a drive-thru format in the spring of 2020.
When the new community centre opened at 500 Stephen St, Many Hands became an ‘anchor’ tenant with permanent space, including a clean and bright space for Morden’s Food Bank. Drop in hours were re-established, re-igniting our focus on connection.
Not-for-Profit of the Year
In November 2020, Many Hands was recognized as Morden and District Chamber of Commerce’s 2020 Not-for-Profit of the Year, an acknowledgment that their services have become more vital than ever during the pandemic.
Board of Directors
Many Hands is run by a volunteer Board of Directors, elected by the membership at the Annual General Meeting. Membership is free and open to anyone interested in the work of the Centre.
Volunteers
Volunteers are at the core of everything we do. So many people contribute their time and skills to Many Hands – each one makes a difference to our community. Please get in touch if you would like to volunteer.
Address
Many Hands Resource Centre
Drop in: 500 Stephen St
Mail to: Stephen St, Morden, MB R6M 1T7
Contact
Have a question?
programs@manyhandsrc.com
text/phone 204-823 1678
Hours
We are available Monday to Tuesday, from 9:00 am to 4:00 pm.
Drop in is at 500 Stephen St.
– Tuesdays 12 to 4pm
– Thursdays 6 to 9pm