Need
Many families are significantly short of essential food items through circumstances beyond their own control.
- Due to complications with paperwork many families on social assistance can be without any income for their children for periods of up to 3 months.
- Income for children of families on social assistance in Saskatchewan consists of the Child Tax Benefit payment only. Social Assistance Program payments are for adults only.
- Often hungry families do not meet the Prince Albert Food Bank’s eligibility requirements.
History
1983 From its very beginning Kateri House responded to the needs of hungry families in Prince Albert.
1984 Pat and Waltera founded the Prince Albert Food Bank, which continued to operate with its own Board and management.
1990′s Within a few years it became clear that the P.A. Food Bank did not meet the increasing needs of hungry familieis in Prince Albert, as many needy families could not meet the criteria of the P.A. Food Bank.
1990′s Kateri House continued to assist hungry families, with food donated from the community, especially bread from supermarkets, soups from restaurants, and any other surplus food from farmers, stores, and individuals.
1997 Michael Grisé joined Kateri House as a full-time volunteer, and managed the food sharing program for two years. He expanded the food donor base in response to increasing need.
1999 The program became too big for the kitchen of Kateri House and moved to its own premises at 524B 16th Street West. Immediately donations of clothing and small household goods began to come in as well as donations of food, and were distributed free to families in need.
1999-2006 Second Harvest Circle operated as a free store for those in need. All were part of the Circle: donors, volunteers, and recipients. At different times the same people were part of each section of the Circle.
The “store” was operated by a number of capable managers: Carol Sanderson, Freddie Zubiak, and Grace Daniels, all assisted by generous volunteers. At its busiest time, Second Harvest Circle served 600 families, responding to more that 300 requests per month.
2006 By May 2006 it was necessary to close the 16th Street West location of Second Harvest Circle, due to a lack of operating funds. By then some other organizations in town were able to accept clothing that would be given where needed (not sold). The food sharing program of Second Harvest Circle was once again based at Kateri House.
2006 to present Second Harvest Circle is a viable program of Kateri House.
