2009 Signature Grant: New Van for Friendship Inn

The Saskatoon Community Foundation has announced its 2009 Signature Grant. $25,000 will be awarded to the Friendship inn for a new van.

“With a Little Help from My Friends”

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 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.

The Signature Grant is awarded annually to an organization that meets an urgent need in our community. Signature Grants are larger awards than our Quality of Life grants and are intended to make a significant impact on the ability of a charity to fulfill its mandate. The Signature Grant program is just one of the ways in which the Saskatoon Community Foundation strives to make Saskatoon the best community in which to live!

For more information:

Trevor Forrest Executive Director
Saskatoon Community Foundation
(306) 665-1766