Saskatoon families to receive 1,800 Thanksgiving-themed bags

Putting turkey on the table for Thanksgiving was made a little easier for hundreds of Saskatoon families this year.

Saskatoon Public Schools Foundation, in partnership with Canpotex, packaged over 600 “cheer crates” to elementary school students and their families. Canpotex is one of the world’s largest suppliers of potash overseas, according to its website.

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The cheer crates are each comprised of three large bags, totaling 1,800 bags. They had “all kinds of things that bring joy to a family,” according to the foundation’s CEO Zeba Ahmad.

Ahmad said the bags had a “Thanksgiving theme,” including staples like turkey, stuffing, and buns. Since the donations were meant to last beyond the weekend, other nutritious foods like apples, oranges, and eggs were included.

Two of the three bags contained groceries. The third bag was filled with books, games, socks, deodorant, and other hygiene items. The total monetary value of the three bags is about $100.

While the cheer crates have Thanksgiving staples, Ahmad said they also include non-holiday items that will hopefully last families well into next week. (Marija Robinson/650 CKOM)

“We want it not to be like a hamper or a handout. We want to show respect to a family and to those students,” Ahmad said. “We want them to know that we care about them.”

The Canadian Armed Forces and teachers delivered the crates.

“The kids get such a kick out of seeing these folks dressed in their army gear,” she said. “Armed Forces is not just about international serving Canada. It’s about serving our community.”

Since the foundation’s inception, more than 10,000 families have received cheer crates. While the number is high, Ahmad said she’s heard personal accounts of the impact. One example was a grandmother crying on the phone while saying, “You have no idea how much this means to us,” and thanking Saskatoon Public Schools Foundation and a teacher.

According to Ahmad, the foundation is determined to support every family in need, especially with people facing rising grocery costs. Schools identify which families would benefit most from the receiving the cheer crates, but sometimes the foundation receives requests through their website or Facebook pages.

When these requests are made, depending on whether all the crates have been allocated, Ahmad said they will try and give the family a grocery store gift card.

But, the purpose of these cheer crates goes beyond just putting food on the table. Saskatoon Public Schools Foundation’s goal is to keep kids in school, ensuring they graduate high school, and eventually become an active member in their community.

For Ahmad, that goal starts with food.

“How do you learn if you’re hungry?” she said, noting a child’s academic success starts in their early years.