The Absence of Abundance (and it's Remedy)

.... What I Learned from Terry and Holden's Conversation with Rick Block from Canada Food Grains Bank ...

Think back to the last time you felt hunger.

I'm not talking "hangry" ... the technical term here in the west for when a meal or snack may be getting a bit late on us.

Rather consider the pervasive form of hunger that has an iron grip on every level of your being when the arrival of the next form of sustenance is unknown due to any numbers of external factors outside of your control, to which you are helpless.

The kind of hunger that is so wildly powerful it affects not only you but your community, your loved ones, your family.

Hunger so powerful that not all will survive.

The truth is, I've never known that kind of hunger.

Nor do I know anyone personally who has, frankly.

Humbling to consider, isn't it?

There's an old Irish Proverb that says a full man doesn't understand the needs of the hungry.

The Food Grains Bank does understand the needs of the hungry.

Through the work that they have been doing for decades, they try remedy the hunger described above with the abundance of resources that we produce here in Western Canada.

Rick Block, the Regional Representative for Food Grains Bank in Saskatchewan describes how in typical good old common sense fashion which farmers are famous for, the initiative was born out of a strong sense of right and wrong with us that have more than we know what to do with at times ...

"The Food Grains Bank was born out of an initiative in the late 70s and early 80s. Mennonite farmers in Saskatchewan and Manitoba had excess grain that wasn’t being exported due to quotas set by the Canadian Wheat Board. These farmers—who weren’t typically vocal, especially in those years—began to respectfully tell the Canadian government, 'This is not morally or ethically right.'

"They pointed out that, as people of faith, it was wrong to sit on piles of grain while watching news of a severe famine in the Indian subcontinent, and later in East Africa in the early 80s. Farmers advocated to the federal government to find a solution. Eventually, a model emerged where grain was bagged separately from Wheat Board exports and sent as food aid."

"When we started with the Food Grains Bank in 2016, we were nearing its 40th anniversary, marking the first grain shipment. Looking back at the historical documents, it’s inspiring to see how quickly farmers across communities communicated with their churches and church-based relief agencies, saying, 'We want to be part of this.' For many farmers, it was intuitive—they had excess and wanted to share it."

"To summarize, the Canadian Food Grains Bank formed in 1983 as an umbrella agency managing international emergency food assistance and long-term food security responses. Initially, five agencies came together, and over the years, others joined. Today, there are 15 church-based agencies working with the Canadian government to combat global hunger."

"The response focuses on two main areas: addressing emergency needs and supporting long-term food security and resilience against the shocks that leave people without access to food."

Rick shares the foundation of their philosophy, which runs to the roots of their faith.

"The Food Grains Bank is known as a Christian response to hunger. We work through church-based agencies, united in the belief that everyone is created in God’s image and that no one should go hungry. We know there’s enough food produced globally for everyone to eat, but many issues prevent that from happening."

"Our mandate is to respond to severe hunger situations and provide long-term support to help people build resilience and grow more and better food. Historically, the Food Grains Bank began by addressing emergency situations, primarily caused by conflict or natural disasters. Conflict often displaces families from their homes, land, and livelihoods, and hunger can set in within just one day. Hunger isn’t an issue that can wait for weeks of planning—it demands an immediate response."

"Through our member agencies and their local partners, we are able to provide emergency food assistance quickly. In some cases, this support lasts weeks or months, but in areas where conflict drives chronic hunger, it can span years. These are the most difficult stories to tell, but they are also stories of hope and resilience."

"For example, my wife Jackie participated in a food study tour in Lebanon, where we saw families bridging divides of faith and culture—Christian and Muslim—to ensure access to food. Hunger is devastating; it can strip away dignity and lead to desperate, harmful coping mechanisms. Providing families with food gives them the dignity of feeding themselves and their children, which is a critical part of our mission as a Christian organization."

"In addition to emergency aid, we focus heavily on supporting long-term food security. This often means helping families and communities grow more and better food. While farming in North America is a small part of the population, globally, smallholder farmers—families farming one or two acres—are the backbone of food production in many regions. In places like East Africa, improving the productivity of smallholder farmers can have a significant regional impact."

"We provide conservation agriculture training, help reduce post-harvest losses, and offer nutrition education. For subsistence farmers, rotating crops is essential but involves a steep learning curve. Our programs often include village savings and loans initiatives, which help families manage financial risks and start small enterprises to supplement household income."

"Nutrition training is also a key part of this long-term work, ensuring families grow crops not only for market but also for their own sustenance. These efforts bring communities together and build resilience. I’ll leave it there for now, but to sum up, our work focuses on two main avenues: responding to emergencies and supporting long-term food security. Both are crucial to addressing hunger on a global scale."

Terry had the opportunity to visit Ethiopia and it changed his vision for the farm here in Canada.

"I had the opportunity to go on a food study tour in Ethiopia, and it was truly a life-changing experience. Spending 10 days seeing where some of the funds went and witnessing the impact of these projects was incredibly powerful. Coming from a world of abundance, it’s hard to fathom the challenges others face. To see, hear, taste, and feel the reality of those in need was profoundly humbling. I met families displaced by conflict or drought, forced to travel to camps or safer locations. Hearing stories of children or family members who didn’t survive the journey was heartbreaking—something unimaginable in day-to-day North American life. We saw malnourished elders, people with blindness or preventable diseases, and countless orphaned children who had lost their parents to these crises. It became clear that even a small amount of help can make a monumental difference."

"One of the most powerful takeaways for me was the realization that, no matter where you go—whether Ethiopia, Asia, or other parts of Africa—people were happy with what little they had. Relationships and community were at the heart of what mattered to them. That contrast really stood out to me, especially when I think about how, in our culture of abundance, many of us are still unhappy because we’re always chasing more of what doesn’t truly matter."

The experience also brought perspective to the things we complain about, like the Wi-Fi not working, grain prices, or missing out on a vacation. It’s a stark reminder of what truly matters and has helped guide some of the values we hold on the farm, especially around giving back."

Let's be grateful, and give from the depths of our hearts.

If you would like to share some of your abundance, go to foodgrainsbank.ca

You can hear Terry and Holden's entire conversation with Rick at growingthefuturepodcast.ca, or anywhere you listen to podcasts, as well as watch it on YouTube!