Regina’s Mosaic Flip for Hunger: give back, eat free

The annual Mosaic Flip for Hunger is a win-win by giving back to those in need of a meal in exchange for a free one.

On top of getting pancakes, sausage, coffee and orange juice, those who make a simple donation to the Regina Food Bank also get in for free to the last day of the Queen City Ex between 10 and 11:30 a.m.

“It’s kind of our way of saying thank you for an awesome week,” said Exhibition Entertainment and Events Manager, Chelsea Galloway.

Thousands are gathered in Confederation Park to kick off the last day of #QCX18 for Mosaic Flip for Hunger!🥞 Donation bins are FULL for @ReginaFoodBank as organizers say they’re seeing more people than usual. #yqr #Sask #SK @evrazplacelive pic.twitter.com/t2aRsWsF5K

— Jayda Noyes (@jaynoyesSK) August 5, 2018

The event is crucial for the Food Bank as their stock for the summer is quite low because of vacations.

CEO Todd Sandin said the non-perishable items and cash donations will hold them over until their October food drive.

“We’re trying to re-engage the public to say, ‘We’re still around; there’s still a need.'”

CEO of the Regina Food Bank, Todd Sandin, says Mosaic Flip for Hunger on August 5, 2018, helps bring low summer supplies to a stable level. They go through about 100 tonnes of food per month to serve over 9500 people. (Jayda Noyes/980 CJME)

“We see a lot of people that may be transitioning (to) different employment, a lot of single parents that are trying to make a way (with) no dual income; they’re what we call the working poor. They just can’t make ends meet even working two jobs,” said Sandin. “It’s really important to have our doors open.”

He added over the last seven years, Mosaic Flip for Hunger has raised 97,000 pounds of food.

And those donations wouldn’t be made without the help of about 35 volunteers, and one who has been there from the beginning.

Seventy-three-year-old Barry Tappin has volunteered for all 14 years of Mosaic Flip for Hunger.

He does a lot of the organizing and starts planning around early June to serve an average of 3800 people.

“As long as I’m around, hopefully we can…have this thing for many years to come,” said Tappin.

It also wouldn’t be Mosaic Flip for Hunger without Mosaic, who helps to pay for the breakfast and subsidize the free entry, according to Senior Community Investment Specialist Celeste Geisbauer.

“As I look around, it’s got very much a community feel,” she said, referring to the event’s new addition of live music.