Prairie Harm Reduction, Okihtcitawak Patrol Group launch fundraising campaign

Two community-based organizations in the city are looking to raise funds, which will be matched by the Kinsmen Club of Saskatoon.

Prairie Harm Reduction (PHR) and Okihtcitawak Patrol Group (OPG) announced the campaign Monday morning in a media release.

@prairiehr and #OkihtcitawakPatrolGroup are happy to announce a joint fundraising campaign sponsored by @KINSMENCLUB who will be matching up to $40,000 in donations for a campaign target of $80,000.
Every $1 donated the campaign receives $2.
Link in our bio. pic.twitter.com/pb3flYNHaR

— prairiehr (@prairiehr) February 22, 2021

“The Kinsmen Club of Saskatoon will match donations up to $40,000 in donations in an effort to raise $80,000 that will be split between PHR and OPG. This donation by the Kinsmen Club of Saskatoon is the single largest donation either organization has received,” the release from PHR states.

The funds will allow the OPG to conduct daily patrols in Pleasant Hill and Riversdale to pick up improperly discarded needles, along with providing outreach and cultural supports to people experiencing homelessness and addictions, according to the release.

“Partnerships allow for a greater impact in Pleasant Hill, and these funds will allow our (organization) to continue to innovate next year while also strengthening our partnership with an Indigenous organization,” PHR executive director Jason Mercredi said in the release.

In addition to the funds coming from the Kinsmen Club, the first $4,000 of the campaign will be matched by Jon Aschenbrener of Realty Executives. That means for every dollar donated within that first commitment, the campaign will receive $3.