The best way to keep Saskatoon’s most vulnerable people safe during the COVID-19 pandemic is to keep them home. The Saskatoon Tribal Council and White Buffalo Youth Lodge have been doing just that since mid-March, feeding over 300 families twice a day every weekday. Tribal Chief Mark Arcand explains it not only helps to keep these families healthy and at home away from chances of transmission of the virus, it helps the city, because if the virus were to end up in this population of most need, it would be devastating to the city and the health care system.

Arcand is hoping businesses, organizations and governments will join them along with other partners that have already signed on to help. As of next week, the program is ramping up to deliver meals to 500 families, feeding about 3-thousand people lunch and dinner each weekday. Arcand says when the pandemic hit Saskatchewan, White Buffalo Youth Lodge cancelled its programs and turned its efforts to feeding people.

He is heartened by the way people have come on board to help and says, “It’s like the City of Saskatoon has so many passionate people that want to make a difference in people’s lives and I’m very humbled and our Chiefs of the Saskatoon Tribal Council are very humbled to have great partners like this and people that care.” You can contact the STC if you or your organization would like to help.

This food security initiative is being delivered with help from the Saskatoon Wildlife Federation, FSIN, Nutrien, Saskatoon Community Action Alliance, Saskatoon Paramedic Association, Saskatoon Public Schools, Saskatoon Co-op, Dakota Dunes Community Development Corporation, the Province of Saskatchewan, Ministry of Education, DCG Philanthropic Services and anonymous donations.