Saskatoon Friendship Inn hosts Thanksgiving meal

The Saskatoon Friendship Inn saw one of its busiest days of the year Monday, with staff and volunteers working together to provide a Thanksgiving meal.

The Saskatoon Friendship Inn saw one of its busiest days of the year on Monday. Many staff and volunteers worked together to provide a Thanksgiving meal for those who might not otherwise have had one.

“We are prepared today to serve anywhere between 2,000 and up to maybe even 2,500 Thanksgiving meals today ... It’s been an army of people working for about a week now, prepping everything that we would have at our homes, for a traditional Thanksgiving meal,” Laura Herman told CTV News. She serves as the manager of development and engagement for the Saskatoon Friendship Inn.

• Download the CTV News app to get breaking news alerts sent to your device

With a lineup circling the block, staff and volunteers were working incredibly hard to make sure everyone had an opportunity to enjoy a meal. Herman shared that the response from those who come by is a rewarding one.

“People are really grateful to have a place to go or to celebrate a holiday like this, the same as we would with our friends and family at home,” she explained.

Those in the kitchen worked throughout the week to make sure that folks visiting the Friendship Inn truly got to enjoy a full Thanksgiving meal.

“It’s everything from roasted turkey to stuffing the mashed potatoes, roasted veggies, the all-important gravy, and of course, cranberry sauce and pumpkin pie for dessert,” Herman said.

While the Friendship Inn does have some full-time staff members, the organization relies heavily on the help of volunteers year-round.

“We love our volunteers. They are the lifeblood of what we do here at the Friendship Inn. It’s about 1,300 hours of volunteer time every single month, regardless of what’s happening any random day in February or July, we need those helping hearts and hands to help us,” Herman said.

The organization operates 365 days a year. According to Herman, it fundraises about 95 per cent of its operating budget. The organization publishes a wish list each week, detailing the food and supplies that would be particularly helpful if donated.