Friendship Inn launches 8th annual fill the plate campaign

The Friendship Inn on 20th Street in Saskatoon launched its 8th annual Fill the Plate campaign on Wednesday.

The campaign is presented by Nutrien which will match all the donations made to the Inn over the month of December.

Executive Director of the Friendship Inn, Sandra Kary, said they can feed up to 1,000 people in a day which can cost nearly $5,000 a day.

“We are really excited to launch the campaign and invite [community] support. No donation is too small. Five dollars fills one plate, so if folks are willing to contribute anywhere from five dollars to five-thousand we are grateful for all of that and when Nutrien matches that donation it has double the power,” she said.

“So this is a really special time of year where people are usually generous and really wanting to make their contribution dollar be hard at work.”

According to Kary, the Inn has become a “safe haven” for the community where people can come in out of the cold, hangout and have a hot meal. She says it is humbling to be a part of something like that.

“Being a part of the Friendship Inn is a real privilege and it’s really humbling sometimes because you see the need there is in our community and you also get to see the generosity in the community and it really is an amazing thing to see people come together,” she said.

“Saskatoon and area has always been really supportive and this is one of those places that I think people understand that no one wants people to be hungry over the holiday season, so this is a really good way for the community to help support those in need.”

The meals the Inn serves can range from cereals and porridge to eggs, toast and sausages for breakfast and different kinds of soups, sandwiches and other hot meals for lunch.

“All of this is by donation so what we receive as surplus foods and donated foods is what we use,” said Kary.

“We tell everyone we are about good food, friendship and a good step forward and that’s what we do every single day.”