SASKATOON — The most vulnerable members of the community were hit hardest by the pandemic but non-profit groups, community organizations and other agencies were also quick in providing help. Homelessness in the city worsened during the pandemic.
The Saskatoon Friendship Inn, which opened in 1969, is among a number of community centres that provide support to the needy by providing a hot meal to hundreds of people daily for the whole year.
Friendship Inn executive director Sandra Kary said they welcome anyone who is in need, especially individuals and families that are either homeless or experience hunger and extreme poverty.
“We do notice in the community that there are more people that are finding themselves homeless or struggling to find secure housing these days. So, we’re happy to work with all our partners and agencies in the community to help resolve that,” Kary added.
“We're doing our part to provide meals and when good partners like the [Federation of Sovereign Indigenous Nations] and come in to provide more things, we're just happy to make that happen and facilitate it.”
FSIN donated at least 300 sets of winter gear—winter jackets, toques, scarves, and gloves—last Wednesday to those who were having breakfast at Friendship Inn.
Kary said Friendship Inn welcomes donations and thanked everyone, like the FSIN, as partners for the work they do in the community.
“We accept all kinds of donations like outerwear, food, and financial. [Food and monetary donations] help us serve two hot meals every single day of the year,” said Kary.
“We’re really grateful that we have partners like FSIN support our guests and we’re pleased to have them here offering coats and warm outerwear for the holiday season.”
She added that their facility only provides hot meals twice daily.
“Lots of people come through our doors looking for all kinds of things, but primarily we're here to make sure everyone has a hot meal twice a day.”
“We don’t have any shelter in here, but we do serve as a warm-up location. So, when it gets colder folks can come in and stay warm. They can come in at 7:30 in the morning and sit down to have a cup of coffee or breakfast. People can come throughout the day just to keep warm.”
Kary said the pandemic also became a challenge for them. “We do have COVID limitations, and it is really challenging as well because we can't just have people in the building for long periods of time. We’re moving people through the meal lineup. We're doing our best to make sure we get people out of the cold as much as we can.”
“We also have times that we have to clean, and we have seating capacities that are limited. When people come through the door, their hands are sanitized and they get a mask, they sit down, their meal is served to them, and then they have about 15 minutes to eat and then we invite them to move along so that the next people can come in.”
Kary added that they also have a takeaway line where people who want to keep moving and don’t want to have their meal inside can just grab the food and go.
FSIN Chief Bobby Cameron says the pandemic has been challenging to everybody, taking it to another level.
“People are really impacted from food security, transportation, travel, mental health, and even medical services. So, anything we can do to help and make life easier for them, make their lives better, we’re always happy to do so.”
He also praised the efforts made by Saskatoon Tribal Council Chief Mark Arcand in starting a wellness centre that can provide temporary living space to 50 individuals this winter season.
“That's an incredible thing to do by STC Chief Mark Arcand and the member nations. What an absolute and awesome thing to see that they are taking care of the vulnerable people. Let's all continue to do that.”
