Impact Stories - Making A Difference
Resources from the Saskatoon Community Foundation are making a difference for Saskatoon residents in many ways. The following are a few recent projects:
2011 Signature Grants
In 2011, several seniors' organizations made requests to improve the quality of life in special care homes caring for elders in our community. Often overlooked, our elders were once the backbone of our community, providing the pioneer spirit, work ethic, and character that shaped our community for us to enjoy. Elders are also the fastest growing segment of our population. With the post-WWII generation approaching its 70s, the largest, healthiest, wealthiest generation ever to walk the earth is now in need of our care, and we owe it to them. Read more»
Signature Grant: Meewasin Valley Authority Improves Access for All
With the changing needs of our citizens and improving views on inclusion and accessibility, it is a challenge for all of us to ensure that everyone who lives in Saskatoon has an equal opportunity to take part in the beautiful community we all share.
The Meewasin Valley Authority has worked for decades to ensure that the natural beauty of our river valley is preserved all protected for the benefit of all. However, for quote a long time, wheelchair access to the Meewasin Trail in Kiwanis Memorial Park has been limited to entry points at either end, by 24th Street and the Broadway Bridge. The slope of the riverbank is a barrier to anyone who cannot navigate a fairly steep set of stairs, so this also limits access for some elderly people and those with mobility issues.
The Saskatoon Community Foundation is proud to partner with Meewasin Valley Authority through a $50,000.00 Signature Grant to create an accessible walkway from the upper trail to the lower trail as part of the construction of the new permanent rink building north of the Delta Bessborough Hotel.
Signature Grant: New Kitchen for the New Crocus Co-op
The kitchen is the heart of any home. This is equally true of the kitchen at Crocus Co-op. Since 1983, Crocus Co-op has provided a safe haven for those living with mental health issues in our community. Like one’s home, Crocus provides a place where clients are not only welcome but accepted, and where nurturing and coaching can lead to healthy lifestyle choices, improved quality of life and hope for the future.
The kitchen at Crocus offers clients access to healthy meals at nominal cost, but much more than that, the kitchen offers vocational training that can pave the way for improved self-esteem, better mental health and job skills that can help clients better their situation in life.
2010 is a year of major changes for Crocus. With the purchase of a building for its new facility, Crocus established a permanent home for its members and its programs. For the first time in its history the organization has a sense of security that we would all like to associate with the word “home.” After providing funding in 2009 for the crocus Kitchen Program, the Saskatoon Community Foundation was proud to help crocus create a new fully functioning kitchen in its new home, a new heart that will be a source of welcome, acceptance, nurturing and learning for years to come.
2009 Signature Grant:
New Van for Friendship Inn
Just over 40 years ago, Joe Cocker sang his famous version of this Beatles classic at Woodstock. Just over 40 years ago, people in Saskatoon started to “get by with a little help from their friends,” when the Friendship Inn was born.
For 40 years, Saskatoon’s Friendship Inn has served 2 meals per day to the less fortunate people of Saskatoon, 365 days a year. The Friendship Inn serves an average of 500 meals per day, and in 2008 served just over 180,000 meals, 40% to children.
Helping that many people every day means continually having to replenish supplies. It also means working with a wide variety of suppliers and partners to ensure the best possible food and dollar value with limited resources. To get all these meals to the people who need them also requires a reliable vehicle that can withstand the heat of summer and the brutal cold of our Saskatchewan winter and still bring home the goods.
The Saskatoon Community Foundation, thanks to the help of one of our friends, an anonymous donor, has granted $25,000 to the Friendship Inn for a new van that can continue to bring a message of Friendship to all those who could use a little help in our community.
