Saskatoon outreach groups helping out during Thanksgiving

It’s a stressful time of year for families, kids are back in school, Christmas shopping is around the corner and Thanksgiving dinner is tomorrow.

With the increasing cost of food and other necessities, this has put a financial strain on some families.

The Friendship Inn in Saskatoon is looking to help relieve some of that stress.

The organization is hosting its annual Thanksgiving dinner tomorrow.

According to Sandra Kary, Executive Director at the Friendship Inn, 2000 plates will be served.

Kary said that is an increase compared to last year.

“Every year we’re seeing an increase coming through our doors,” she said. “From the previous year, we had just in general a nine per cent increase in meal usage.”

Kary said they also topped over 438,000 meals in a one-year span.

This Thanksgiving plate will include turkey, and Kary said the whole plate is very traditional.

“The best stuffing you’ve ever tasted .. potatoes, veggies and gravy,” she said. “There will for sure be a piece of pumpkin pie with that.”

As for what it takes to make all 2000 plates, Kary said the Inn expects to use anywhere from 60 to 80 turkeys.

The Friendship Inn relies on donations during this time, as it takes around six dollars to make a plate.

Kary said she also noticed an increase in community support around this time of year.

“When you have a holiday meal with your own family at the table you tend to look around and think of others who may not have as much,” Kary said. “That kind of inspires our community to come and support.”

The dinner opens up at 11:30 a.m. and finishes by 1:30 p.m.

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The Saskatoon Food Bank and Learning Centre is also lending a helping hand to those in need.

A Thanksgiving hamper is being filled with food items.

Andy Cardinal, Communications and Events coordinator with the Saskatoon Food Bank and Learning Centre, said despite being closed on Thanksgiving they still see a lot of people.

“The couple of days before, and the few days afterwards we see an increase (in people),” he said. “We can actually have up to 600 people coming through our doors.”

That number has continued to increase year over year according to Cardinal.

Cardinal also said that people in Saskatoon usually help out more during the holiday season as well.

“Around each family holiday we usually see an uptick in usage,” said Cardinal. “I’ve seen quite a bit of  communities rallying together and hosting food drives.”

Similar events occur in Regina as well.