The Canadian Foodgrains Bank is welcoming a new face to their Manitoba team!
The recent announcement of Manitoba and Northwest Ontario rep, Gordon Janzen's retirement, opens the door for the newest member of the Foodgrains Bank to advocate for the hungry around the world.
Dale Friesen grew up on a mixed farming operation just west of Altona. However, the call to ministry prompted Friesen into the seminary, and now after 17 years as pastor he has stepped into this new role as CFB rep for Manitoba and NW Ontario.
"The idea of combining the farming background and the faith background worked really well for me to fit into the Canadian Foodgrains Bank," shares Friesen. "When the job came up, I thought this would be a perfect fit, and here I am!"
"I find it very exciting," he continues. "To help those in need, to be able to help people get food is such an important thing. We are made in God's image and all of humanity deserves food. So that's very awesome to be able to help that way, but then also to be able to relate to donors and to farmers, and to local people here in Manitoba and northwestern Ontario, it's been a lot of fun so far. Yes, it's been really good!"
"What has struck me the most is the dedication and generosity of these people. Some of these projects have been ongoing for 20-30 years..."
Over the past few weeks Gordon Janzen has been introducing Friesen to the many Foodgrains committees and projects across his region.
"Gordon and I have been taking several mini road trips across the province, meeting with various growing projects where people pool their resources to plant fields and donate the revenue to food banks," explains Friesen.
"We've met with them in a wide variety of places, from homes to machine shops to small-town restaurants. What has struck me the most is the dedication and generosity of these people. Some of these projects have been ongoing for 20-30 years, and it's been fascinating to hear their stories and understand why they became involved."
"Hearing their stories has been quite overwhelming and humbling," he adds. "The joy and satisfaction they derive from their contributions are palpable, and it’s clear that these projects are a vital part of their lives. It's been a privilege to witness their dedication and to understand the profound difference they are making in their communities."
"Their commitment and the impact they make are truly inspiring."
Friesen has seen how each of these projects across the province brings community together as a whole, whether the participants and volunteers are church-goers or not. These are larger projects that unite an entire community.
"Even as a former pastor, I found that there were people who I had contact with who had a hard time finding a role to serve in the church, but in this kind of role with the Foodgrains project they had a really easy time," he explains.
"Many of these individuals find it challenging to fit into traditional church settings, but these projects provide a meaningful way for them to contribute to their local communities. It's been heartwarming to see how happy people are to help out at a very tangible level, giving from the best of their own gifts. Their commitment and the impact they make are truly inspiring."
Dale and his wife Tammy, and their 2 sons, live in Winnipeg.