Long-time food bank executive director retiring

It’s a time of transition for Meadow Lake’s Door of Hope Food Bank as the organization will have to replace its long-serving Executive Director Unita Esau.

She started her career with the Meadow Lake Outreach Ministries in 2004 as an adult life skills coach, first in Meadow Lake, then Green Lake, before she stepped in to lead the organization. 

“It’s a very close organization,” she said. “It’s been about relationships. There’s a huge network of folks out there where this is their place of refuge and they are our friends.”

Over the years, along with fellow staff and board members, Esau has been instrumental in creating programs and partnerships as well as running fundraisers and food drives. The organization works with local grocery stores to collect reclaimed food and also runs a school lunch program.

One program Esau is particularly proud of is a partnership with the Meadow Lake Primary Health Care Centre. The clinic sends information for patients in need of assistance, and the Door of Hope creates a customized hamper. The partnership even received an innovation award from Food Banks Canada in 2015.

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“We started it with no money and some partners,” Esau said. “There’s a line on the referral letting us know if the person was post-surgery or a breastfeeding mom or something like that. We’ve been able to tailor it to the best of our ability.”

Esau said her main wish is for the organization’s continued growth in the community. 

“I hope it will continue to provide not only the services we do now, but new services that directly affect people’s lives,” she said. “Hopefully, moving forward there will be great ideas, initiatives, and partnerships. It’s been a true reward to be a part of it.”

Bill Sclater, chair of the Meadow Lake Outreach Ministries board, said Esau’s presence and leadership will be missed. He said the board is in the midst of conducting interviews for Esau’s replacement, and volunteers and fellow staff will help keep the organization running smoothly in the interim.

“She’s been a big part of the Door,” Sclater said. “It’s a sad day to lose her. It’s not just a job to her; we’ve been blessed with her.”

kathy.gallant@jpbg.ca

On Twitter @ReporterKath