Food deliveries from the public have posed challenges. Social distancing regulations have reduced the ability to welcome everyone indoors. And now that Christmas looms, the need may be greater than ever as new people are forced to seek food and assistance.

“We know this has been a tough time, a tough time for everyone across the board,” said Laurie O’Connor, executive director of the Saskatoon Food Bank & Learning Centre. “We had to get used to a different reality.

“What we’re concerned about is what this means for the medium term, for folks accessing our services, for people who haven’t had to use our services before. “We’ve seen things like the recession in 2008 increase usage across the country by leaps and bounds. COVID and the way it’s affecting the economy will have lasting effects. Not only are we planning what the holiday season looks like, but what the next six or eight months might look like for folks.”

O’Connor said COVID has affected the way the Food Bank has operated from the very beginning.

“One of the ways it did was we went from donated food to purchasing food. We won’t be making a big call for folks to go to the grocery store.” However, people who do want to donate food can do so by dropping off items in the Food Bank’s grocery store bins.

COVID has forced changes at the Friendship Inn as well. Executive director Sandra Kary said the charity can only allow for 50 per cent capacity for breakfast and lunch, or 60 guests at a time. During the lockdown, the inn provided takeaway service which is still in place.

“We’ve reinvented the wheel many times over so if we have to retract services, we’ll just move to takeaway out the door again. We want to make sure there’s food security in the community and will continue to provide it,” Kary said.

At the time of the interview, the inn was directly serving food to guests, quite a departure from the norm.

“It’s very labour intensive, very different from what we did before. Most soup kitchens are cafeteria style. Mask wearing is mandatory, everything is sanitized, and a staff member or volunteer brings them their meal. It’s a slower kind of service because we have to adapt to the limitations we have.

“We’ve staffed up . . . it takes more people to serve a meal directly to a guest than have them pick up their own meal and bus their own dishes.”

But, she noted, there’s always a bright side.

“There’s a little more time and space to have a better greeting. There’s a different kind of exchange in the times of COVID that has some benefits.”

At Thanksgiving, the inn provided the same kind of service and made sure the meal was a traditional turkey dinner; she expects the same will happen at Christmas. “Our priority at this moment is food security, but that doesn’t preclude us from a nice turkey dinner,” she said. “On Sunday, Dec. 20, we will have a bit of a kids’ Christmas giveaway and will let our community know if they bring their children, we will be able to offer them a gift.

“In normal times we would just have a big party and activities for the kids and music, but we have to be careful we’re not calling it an event. We will do it in a safe manner and have a gift giveaway for kids under 12.”

For those who can help, she suggests watching the inn’s social media for opportunities to provide new wrapped gifts for children, “as non-gendered as possible; toys, games, and books marked with age ranges.

“The other thing we look at always is for the community to provide outerwear. Gently-used coats, mitts, toques and scarves. We don’t go too much farther than that; we aren’t a clothing depot. We’re open every day of the year, so people know if they really need something, they can come to us.”

The inn always posts a food wish list as well; there will likely be requests for turkey, ham, carrots, potatoes, stuffing, sugar and other items.

“Even if it starts raining turkeys on us, we use turkeys all year long. We’re always very grateful. We have a pretty good setup for space. We use them all year long and put them into stews and soups and things.”

The inn also will run its annual Fill the Plate campaign, its biggest fundraising campaign of the year. “Nutrien is our lead sponsor and they are again sponsoring us with a matching donation up to $100,000. Anyone who donates, it gets matched.”

The link to donate is https:// friendshipinn.ca/donations/.

The Food Bank, meanwhile, is encouraging financial donations in part via online events. “We have some really cool online things that will be interactive where people can go and donate.” A donation button is also on the top right of the Food Bank’s website at https://saskatoonfoodbank.org/.

“We’re still trying to move through and have a few events. We’re going to do Huron Carole with Tom Jackson and it will be virtual. It’s such a lovely holiday tradition.

“The CP Holiday Train has moved to a virtual concert. There are a lot of things that will continue on and move to online, and people will be able to see all those things on our website and social media accounts.”

As for food, the Food Bank is providing some delivery via volunteers, but most hampers are being picked up as usual. However, only seven people are allowed in the building at a time, and O’Connor worries about clients staying warm while lining up. She says the staff is trying to work as quickly and efficiently as possible.

People are offered masks, asked how they are feeling, and are provided with pre-made hampers, she said.

“In this province, one in four children live in poverty. That hasn’t changed in the last many years. Poverty is stubborn. I want folks to know we’re working hard on hunger and poverty in our community and their support of us has a huge impact on our ability to do that work.”

Other programs have switched to online or by telephone, such as the nutrition classes and income tax clinics. The clothing depot is now providing only hygiene and cleaning products, because the space is simply not big enough to handle people browsing for clothes.

Like the Friendship Inn, the Food Bank has hired more staff because of the increased workload. “So much of the energy we pour into systemic work is directed to responding to COVID.”

And that response has been community-wide. An Inter-Agency Response to COVID group has been organized and meets at least once a week. People have been very supportive, and she said she has seen great resiliency in the community.

“We’re very grateful for everything people want to do for us. Businesses are putting their hands up to support us. Everything has shifted. The spirit of giving in this community is very strong.”

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The Saskatoon YWCA also needs donation support for its shelter. Donations can be dropped off at the front desk between the hours of 7 a.m.-7p.m. Monday to Friday and 9 a.m.-5p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Call 306-244-2844 before you arrive.

The following are supplies needed as of November. Cash donations are always accepted. All items must be new unless noted.

• Twin fitted and flat sheets

• Pillows

• Baby formula (various sizes and brands)

• Baby bottles

• Unscented body wash

• Unscented shampoo and conditioner

• Cutlery (can be gently used)

• Mugs, glasses, bowls, plates (can be gently used)

• Gift cards (varying denominations, for grocery purchases)

• Hand sanitizer

-Joanne Paulson