CHEP Good Food Inc’s goal is to make healthy food available for those who struggle with having good access, which became more of a challenge when schools and businesses closed in March because of COVID-19.
Acting Executive Director Jean Goerzen says CHEP supplies fresh produce and dairy to schools at a cheaper rate because of bulk buying, so that stopped as did the lunches that were delivered to schools for students in need.
Goerzen says they realized the children would still be hungry, as would their families so through emergency funding that CHEP applied for, the organization began delivering lunches to homes, but with only 2 trucks, Goerzen wondered how they could get it all done.
That’s where Saskatoon’s volunteer spirit shines.
Goerzen says both Access Transit and the John Howard Society did deliveries twice a week while the Elizabeth Fry Society and KidsFirst helped with the packing of the lunches.
Now that students are back in the classroom, CHEP is back to delivering lunch bags to schools, but their cooking classes for students are still on hiatus.