With about 250 families recognized as being at risk in terms of basic necessities when tied to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the South East Cornerstone Public School Division (SECPSD) has been responding.
Cheryl Anderson, who took on the leadership role in the South Saskatchewan Community Foundation Grant Project, provided an updated report to the division’s board members during their June 17 general business meeting.
Appearing online, Anderson said the original practice of giving out grocery store gift cards to vulnerable families did not meet the requirements for the federally funded project that has directed $30,000 toward the southeast Saskatchewan project. That meant a wholesale change in strategy for the second project, she explained.
“There is a pressing social need, and with no other funds available to some families, we have gone to the cafeteria craft routes,” Anderson said.
Lead by Estevan Comprehensive School culinary/kitchen leader Curtis Hack and his Weyburn Comprehensive School compatriot Ardelle Pearson, three daily meals are being prepared this summer for 250 SECPSD families who were identified as being at risk thanks to the COVID situation.
“These families were identified as those requiring assistance before, and once a couple of restrictions were lifted, meals could be prepared and sent out from food safe kitchens, so we launched this program,” she said.
Since the health and safety protocols could not be guaranteed at small school kitchens, the project work fell on the shoulders of the kitchen staffs at the division’s two largest schools.
“We had to follow safety protocols,” said Anderson, and WCS and ECS were in compliance with these standards.
Support came from the school division’s transportation department where transportation supervisor Andy Verhaeghe saw to it that a couple of vans were retrofitted with temporary refrigeration systems to provide food safety during the delivery process.
“The turnaround time and action plan was incredible. It took less than three weeks,” said Anderson, referring to full process from application to delivery.
The funding is available until April of next year and Anderson said she anticipates a small hike in demand this fall.
In the meantime, the vulnerable families are receiving wholesome meals that include vegetables, seasoned chicken, baked potatoes and more.
Delivery routes have been mapped out for efficiency.
Estevan trustee Jim Vermeersch wondered whether this program could be co-ordinated with some local food bank programs.
Anderson said: “I hadn’t thought of that right away, but yes, I believe it could be. I’m just not sure what smaller communities have for food banks, but I know of the projects in Weyburn and Estevan run by the Salvation Army.”
Estevan trustee Shari Sutter added that community family centres in these two cities might also be able to share and benefit to some degree as they would add such things as baby formula or even diaper services.
“Yep, that may be possible too,” said Anderson, “but we would require another process and deal with another grant procedure I assume and there might be stipulations on what we can deliver.”
Sutter said she acknowledged the expansion of a plan might be more detailed but said, “team work makes it possible sometimes.”
Anderson completed her report on an upbeat note, saying she was impressed with the reaction to the need and the action plan that was implemented on short notice for the benefit of families who were currently at risk.
