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Families in Saskatoon received a helping hand from the White Buffalo Youth Lodge on Friday at the annual back-to-school backpack giveaway and carnival.
The event started with 500 backpacks back in 2014, but has since grown to 4,000 backpacks along with other school supplies that are given to thousands of students who will soon be heading back to school.
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Saskatoon Tribal Council Chief Mark Arcand said around $300,000 was raised for the annual event and that it is “eye-opening” to see the growing need for school supplies that families face.
“Families are struggling right now with food, rent. Poverty is a big thing right now because of inflation,” Arcand told reporters on Friday.
“They’re choosing between food and backpacks and rent, and we don’t want to put that burden on anybody.”
Arcand said some families started lining up at the youth lodge at four and five in the morning even though the doors opened at 9 a.m. Arcand said it’s “because they’re in need, and it’s a sad thing for our community.”
Arcand stressed the importance of ensuring children are set up with the proper resources and school supplies to ensure they are prepared for the school year.
“We want them to be educated so they can contribute to society instead of being homeless or incarcerated and all these negative things that impact their community,” he said.
Arcand said the Saskatoon Tribal Council will advocate for events such as the backpack giveaway to help the community and encouraged those in need of school supplies or resources to attend.
“If you’re in need, come, we’re here to help you,” he said.
The event also offered free services such as access to haircuts and community booths along with bouncy castles, entertainment and a BBQ.
The White Buffalo Youth Lodge is an inner-city urban leisure facility operated by the Saskatoon Tribal Council, Central Urban Metis Federation Inc., the Saskatchewan Healthy Authority and the City of Saskatoon.
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