Four local food and health organizations in Moose Jaw are benefitting from a $1.5 million investment from The Mosaic Company over the next three years.

The investment will be divvied up to the Moose Jaw Health Foundation, Moose Jaw & District Food Bank, Hunger in Moose Jaw and Wakamow Valley – Mosaic Community Food Farm.

On Wednesday, Mosaic announced it will be supporting the local organizations to strengthen health care, advance food security and improve community well-being across Saskatchewan’s southern region.

“Obviously food security is very important to Mosaic, as it is in our province today. That paired with health care, another important thing to our province, our people and our employees, the two themes made great sense, especially during Saskatchewan Mining Week,” said Marnel Jones, director of government and public affairs for Mosaic.

Less than three months ago, the Moose Jaw & District Food Bank were forced to reduce its services due to ongoing food supply constraints.

“We’ve seen an increase of about 160 per cent over four years in the number of visits at the food bank,” Jason Moore, executive director for the food bank, told CTV News.

“Its put a strain on our resources and as a result, we had to reduce the number of visits per client from two visits a month to one.”

In an effort to keep up with the demand of families in need, the non-profit said the changes were needed to remain sustainable.

However, Mosaic’s recent investment of $90,000 over the next three years has allowed the food bank to plan for its future, according to Moore.

“Without sponsors like Mosaic and without reliable sources of income, then it’s a guessing game month to month,” he said. “It makes it really tough and challenging for us to continue services when we’re not sure where our resources are coming from.”

Ryan Hrechka, chair of the Moose Jaw Health Foundation, said the organization will be receiving $1 million from Mosaic’s investment which will go towards updating “surgical equipment and diagnostics” needed at Dr. F. H. Wigmore Regional Hospital.

“As always with hospitals and medical [needs], things are changing so fast and quickly, technology and equipment,” Hrechka told reporters on Wednesday. “… We want to make sure that we have the most updated equipment to service the area that we service.

Hrechka added the foundation has had a long-term partnership with Mosaic and is thankful for the company’s continued support.

“They’ve provided funding for us for many, many years. Saskatchewan is a great community, people give and always give,” he said.

“It’s just wonderful to see it. We can’t say thank you enough to them for everything they’ve done and continue to do for our communities.”

Throughout years of collaborating with local organizations, the potash company said prioritizing the community’s well-being is one of its main missions.

“There’s a lot of challenges in our communities right now and Mosaic’s really happy that we can step up and provide funding for things like food security and health care donated,” Jones said, when asked about the concerns surrounding health care and food security.

“…We have been investing in the Moose Jaw community for well over 15 years and that total adds up to about $4.5 million invested in Moose Jaw.”