The fundraising goal for the Friendship Inn to take them through 2020 is $550-thousand and the Fill the Plate campaign is helping to reach that total. Executive Director Sandra Kary estimates they have raised enough for about 20 days worth of meals.
She explains that a meal costs about $5 and they serve about a thousand people a day, for a daily total of $5-thousand. Any size of donation is welcome and until the end of the month, Nutrien is matching donations up to $100-thousand.
If you would prefer to volunteer, the Friendship Inn would welcome the help, but is already full for Christmas dinner on the 25th. Food donations are being accepted for the holiday meal. Kary suggests anything from hams and turkeys to vegetables, frozen vegetables, celery which has become quite costly these days, and stuffing mix. Other items they always need are peanut butter, pancake mix and syrup for breakfast.
Kary adds that the Friendship Inn doesn’t just serve meals. It’s also a community centre with programs and services for individuals and families. It’s also a warmup shelter between 8 a.m. and 2 p.m. each day.