Outreach groups serve Thanksgiving meals in Saskatoon, Regina

As food costs continue to rise, outreach groups in Saskatchewan have prepared to serve thousands of meals to mark Thanksgiving.

Sandra Kary, executive director of Saskatoon’s Friendship Inn, said they plan to serve a Thanksgiving meal on Monday.

“We are in preparation to build up to 1,500 Thanksgiving dinners that day,” said Kary.

It costs roughly six dollars per plate and involves a week of preparation, including cooking 65 turkeys, to pull off the event.

“We’ve had lots of support from volunteers and communities to get all of those turkey dinners and all the fixings started,” said Kary.

Kary said doing these big family meals is meaningful for those who may not have anywhere else to go.

“It’s just important for us to make a special time and really just wrap our arms around everyone who needs to come through our doors.”

Laurie O’Connor, executive director of the Saskatoon Food Bank and Learning Centre said they won’t have a meal event for people attend, but they do have food available for people to take home.

“I think what we see this time of year is that folks really do, true to the words, start giving thanks,” she said.

“(They) start thinking about the community and folks who are struggling, so we will see an uptick in financial contributions because of the holiday.”

The food bank partners with organizations like the Friendship Inn in Saskatoon.

“We’re good partners with those organizations, so if we have extra food that we think they might be able to share with the community, that’s the route we will go,” said Kay.

In Regina, the Carmichael Outreach held its annual Thanksgiving meal on Friday.