Mustard Seed cook Mary Shaw (front) and head chef Dieter Jennen have worked tirelessly during the pandemic to make sure homeless and low-income people are fed (Image Credit: CFJC Today / Kent Simmonds)

By Chad Klassen

PANDEMIC HEROES

HEROES OF THE PANDEMIC: Chefs at The Mustard Seed team up to feed the street population during COVID-19

Mar 17, 2021 | 4:13 PM

KAMLOOPS — In the third installment of “Heroes of the Pandemic,” we focus on two chefs at The Mustard Seed who have been doing everything in their power to ensure everyone is fed during COVID-19. Dieter Jennen and Mary Shaw have gone above and beyond during a challenging time when more people have been leaning on social agencies for meals.

The COVID-19 pandemic has meant more work for Dieter Jennen and Mary Shaw in the kitchen at The Mustard Seed. The number of clients they’re serving has nearly doubled and they’ve turned to take-out containers as a safety precaution.

“It’s been a challenge,” noted Jennen, the head chef at The Mustard Seed on Victoria St. “We have a lot more work to do with all the packaging. It’s a lot more work, and we’re feeding a lot more people. Usually before the pandemic, we would feed between 60 and 100 people max. Now, we’re doing a minimum of about 120 to 150 people.”

As the head chef at The Mustard Seed, a lot has been put on Jennen’s shoulders, as well as Shaw’s, his right-hand woman, as the non-profit tries to keep providing meals that are needed now more than ever.

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“The costs are through the roof with all the paper products and everything. They keep changing the rules, and that’s understandable. It’s a challenge. Every day, it’s a whole new battle,” said Jennen.

Shaw added, “We’re not allowed as many people in. We have to box up their meals. It’s more work, but all in all it’s all worth it because everybody gets fed.”

It’s not just people at The Mustard Seed that Dieter and Mary are cooking for. They have been putting together food for people at homeless shelters — formerly Memorial Arena and now the Kamloops Curling Club, which is run by the Canadian Mental Health Association.

“We’ve actually had to hire a couple extra people part-time just to help, but even there, it’s a challenge,” said Jennen. “When you think about it, we’re doing two banquets for 100-150 people twice a day every day, seven days a week. It never ends.”

Despite the challenges, Jennen and Shaw just keep on cooking — out of the love for feeding people.

“I just like to see people get fed,” said Shaw. “I know what it’s like to go without as I was growing up, and just to see all these people get fed, it’s such a wonderful feeling.”

Jennen added, “I do what anybody should do — look after your neighbour, your co-workers, your friends, the people you know. Looking after them. Help them as best you can. That’s all I do.”