Watch above: Ensuring nobody went hungry this Easter, 30 volunteers served over 1,500 meals on Monday to those in need at Saskatoon’s Friendship Inn. Meaghan Craig reports.
SASKATOON – Thirty volunteers scoped and served over 1,500 meals to those in need at the Friendship Inn, ensuring nobody went hungry on Easter Monday in Saskatoon.
“The February break that we just passed, we were serving 1,000 meals a day to children and to families. So we’re certainly seeing an increase in the families that we’re serving and it is disturbing seeing the amount of kids that are coming, needing a meal,” said Sandra Stack, executive director at the Friendship Inn.
“Rents are rising and so the middle of the month cheque is just not seeing it through for people.”
For some, it was their first time volunteering with the organization and definitely not their last.
“It’s important for families to accept that we can go gather, we can get a turkey meal. It’s also important for community to share that and to share the experience of being together,” said Lori Caswell.
Caswell volunteered along with her husband Robert this Easter after it was suggested they dedicate a few hours of their time by their daughter, who is the volunteer coordinator at the Friendship Inn.
“I’ve been meaning to come down but just finally she said ‘listen, we’re having a big meal on Monday and we need you’ so we came,” explained Robert, as tears began to swell in his eyes.
He and his wife were assigned to serve the family table and were clearly touched that they could help ensure those less fortunate had food in stomachs as well as a reason to smile this Easter.
“You often hear about volunteering ending up being of more value to you than to the people you’re volunteering for and I think that’s what it is,” remarked Robert.
“It’s really hard to believe in a nation like ours, there are so many people who find the need to come to get a free meal. It’s too bad and I really have no solutions and that’s the saddest part.”
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While affordable housing is a challenge for many clients using the service, the Friendship Inn says one of the difficulties it faces is needing the generosity of others year round not just during major holidays.
“We’re always looking for fresh food donations, fresh fruit and vegetables, as well as meat,” said Stack.
Nutritional meals, the Friendship Inn tries to provide as much as possible but it proves difficult during the summer months.
“If you’re planting please plant a row for us, if you’re planting 20 hills of potatoes please put a few extra hills of potatoes in for the Friendship Inn,” encouraged Stack.
“We’re welcoming donations and we’d love to have volunteers especially in the summer months when people are holidaying, we’re just going to see an increase in the amount of families here at the Inn so it would be nice to see families volunteering.”
To contact the Friendship Inn call 306-242-5122.
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