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Weblog:
News from the Salvation Army Community Centre
Under what circumstances is someone forbidden to stay at the Salvation Army?
We get this asked once in a while and this answer comes from our F.A.Q. While we try our best at helping out the most amount of people possible, there are some people that we do not allow to reside or use services at the Salvation Army. In the past some clients have become extremely violent towards staff or other clients or have endangered people who stay or work here in another way (drug dealing, starting fires, or extensive willful damage to the facility). There are some clients who insist on abusing drugs, alcohol, or other substances which impact their ability to stay here. The Centre is full of clients who are working hard at staying clean and sober and for those who are not at that point, we are not always their best option. Also there are those that can not function within the rules of the Centre and become a danger to the staff and other people around them. In those cases other residential placements are better options. In the vast majority of cases we will ban a client for a finite period of time and after that time is past, we welcome them back to the Centre and we will work well together at resolving the issues we have. There are some clients however that because of consistent danger towards others, are not allowed to come back until those violence issues are dealt with. While we are the only men’s hostel in town, there are other supported living spaces available. What we find is that there is a wide range of individuals that need emergency shelter and while we would like to be able to help everyone, this is the wrong kind of place for a small percentage of clients to be. When possible, we work with the Ministry of Social Services and other agencies to find better placements. There are the occasional situation that we just have to refuse for the safety of staff, other residents, and the public we serve. It’s not a decision we make lightly and as a provider of emergency housing, having to refuse someone does go against who we are but there are times we have no other option and have to refuse services to them. If you have any questions about how we handle these situations, feel free to contact the Centre at 244.6280 or email Jordon Cooper, our Residential Coordinator. Labels: Family Services, Food Services, Life at the Centre, Residential Services
Online Christmas Hamper Applications
Fall Supper at the Salvation Army Community Centre
Thank You Sleep Country!
A special thanks to Sleep Country for the donation of school supplies to the Centre. The supplies were distributed to families who needed a little extra help in getting their children ready for back to school. While Sleep Country has made a big difference in Saskatoon, this is a national campaign as well  From August 1-31, 2009, The Salvation is partnering with Sleep Country Canada in its annual Backpacks for Kids program. The program supports children in grades one through seven who can’t afford new school supplies.
Canadians are encouraged to drop off new backpacks filled with school supplies at local Sleep Country stores. Donations will be distributed to local children through The Salvation Army and KidsFest, a non-profit organization dedicated to helping young Canadians who live at or below the poverty line. Since the Backpack for Kids program began in 2005, and with the generous support of the public, more than 20,000 backpacks filled with supplies have to given to children in need. Labels: Family Services, Saskatoon
Funding Increase for Emergency After Hours
According to News Talk Radio After-hours services at the Saskatoon Salvation Army are getting a shot in the arm. The province is boosting their funding by 82-thousand dollars. Social Services Minister Donna Harpauer says the money will the facility keep up with a growing demand for its services. "They have had increases and they are looking at expansion, so this will help them to have more staff on at night." The money will add full time staff at the shelter, including counselors. Harpauer says the money should be a permanent addition to the Salvation Army's annual budget. Labels: Family Services, Saskatchewan
Women's Shelter Re-Zoning Meeting
On June 16th, the Salvation Army, the City of Saskatoon, and the citizens of Pleasant Hill got together to discuss our desire for a zoning change to allow us to purchase and open an emergency shelter for women and children who are homeless in Saskatoon.
Along the way, there was a mis-communication between the City and Pleasant Hill School and the school was locked when everyone got there. Luckily it was a perfect evening to sit outside and talk so instead of using the school's auditorium, we used the front lawn. The result was we all got to enjoy the late spring weather and no one can accuse us of meeting behind closed doors!
If you missed the meeting or have any questions about the project, please don't hesitate to contact Captain Rhonda Smith at the Centre via phone (242.6833), e-mail, or in drop by in person.
 Labels: Family Services, Pleasant Hill, Residential Services, Saskatoon, Women's Shelter
Montreal woman lends a hand as she travels across Canada
An article in the Saskatoon Star Phoenix about Deborah Hayek who joined us at the Centre last week.  A few weeks ago, Deborah Hayek was eating Easter supper with her family in Montreal when she got her big idea.
She decided to take a train across Canada, stopping in several cities to volunteer, before arriving at her grandmother's home in Vancouver. "When you go to a city for two or three days, it's hard to get out of the tourist mode," she said. "I was trying to think of ways so that I could meet people and actually understand the country better." She began calling people in different cities to make connections. Less than a week after she began, she got on the train. "I tend to do things kind of spontaneously," she said. The spur-of-the moment project took the 23-year-old from Quebec to Saskatoon. She spent Earth Day collecting garbage and planting trees in Toronto and volunteered at the MS Walk in Winnipeg. On Tuesday, she was seated in front of a group of 10- and 11-year-old students as a volunteer for the Junior Achievement program. Her mock job interview for a class of Grade 5 students at Brunskill School sent giggles throughout the room as the students prepared to critique her skills. The students are part of a business basics program delivered by Junior Achievement volunteer Lisa Strozen. As a teacher and business owner, Strozen goes into classrooms to teach students about businesses, with the hope of encouraging them to create their own ventures. On Tuesday, she trained Hayek to deliver the program to students. She also plans to volunteer at the Salvation Army in Saskatoon and the rehabilitation centre for adults with brain injuries and take part in a conversational circle with new immigrants. If you want to join the many people across Saskatoon (and now from across Canada) who volunteer at the Centre, feel free to give us a call at 306.242.6833. We have a wide range of places and opportunities for those who want to make a difference in Saskatoon! Labels: Family Services, Food Services, Life at the Centre
Register for Beaver Creek Camp
By the numbers
The numbers below give you an idea of what kind of year the Salvation Army Community Centre had in 2008. Our 2007 stats - 6638 beds used
- 67,417 meals served
- 4,055 breakfasts served to high school students
- 3,533 women and children provided with emergency after hours assistance
- 1141 hotel rooms used to provide emergency shelter for women and children
- 228 emergency infant needs provided for
- 4205 Christmas hampers given out
- 2222 people given free clothing
- 219 emergency food hampers distributed
- 70 inner city kids sent to camp
- 113 Family Tracing cases handled
What we did in 2008 It's been quite a year and we want to thank our the Government of Saskatchewan for continued funding, the support of thousands of people making donations at the Centre, via the Christmas kettles, and the Red Shield appeal, and all of the other NGO's in the city that we work with on a daily basis to make Saskatoon a better place to live for people in need. Labels: Affordable Housing, Beaver Creek Camp, Christmas, Emergency Disaster Services, Family Services, Food Services, Life at the Centre, Residential Services, Saskatchewan, Saskatoon
Hamper Handout Day
The Salvation Army in Saskatoon is giving out a couple thousand Christmas Hampers today in addition to the ones given out by Brent and Penny's Adopt a Family and Denny Carr's Secret Santa. In all around 5000 hampers will be distributed to families in need over the holidays. Today was hamper distribution day and I was able to get in just before we opened to the public today to take some photos of what the Salvation Army and the people of Saskatoon were able to give out this Christmas. Thanks to everyone who gave to the Star Phoenix's Sporting Christmas, at the kettles, at the Centre, and to both Adopt a Family and Secret Santa. We made a huge difference! 
Food hampers ready to distribute. In addition to the food in these boxes, each family receives a turkey or a ham, carrots and potatoes. 
The bags are full of toys for the children. Each bag was specifically put together with toys from Rock 102's Toy Soldier campaign. The toys are wrapped, sorted, and are waiting here for families to come and pick them up. 
Labels: Christmas, Family Services
2008 Santa Shuffle Photos
Nathan Regamey took some excellent photographs of the 2008 Santa Shuffle held in Saskatoon on December 6th, 2008. 
The annual Santa Shuffle Fun Run & Elf Walk brings families and friends together. The event is held across North America and we had a record number of runners and walkers taking part in 2008. This merry event helps The Salvation Army to assist families and individuals in need during the Christmas season and throughout the year. A big thanks to everyone who participated in the run and helped make a difference in the lives of Saskatoon families this year! Labels: Christmas, Family Services, Saskatchewan, Saskatoon
Rock 102’s Toy Soldier Programs “Wraps Up”
“There is nothing that says ‘Christmas Spirit’ like the community coming together to help a less fortunate child have a toy to open on Christmas Morning.” says Shack, Rock 102’s Morning Show host. This morning 120 Saskatoon volunteers gathered at the Salvation Army Warehouse and wrapped thousands of toys, as part of Rock 102’s 2nd Annual Toy Soldier Wrap Day! The 1st Annual Wrap Day made history in 2007 as the first year ever local children of Saskatoon had wrapped presents in their Salvation Army hampers. Volunteers & Rock 102 wrapped over 15,000 gifts, all of which were donated to the Rock 102 Toy Solider campaign by thousands of generous individuals in Saskatoon. Over 18,000 toys were collected this year! Thank you to all of the volunteers, our sponsors, Midtown Plaza, Mc Donalds, SMP and the Royal Bank. A special thank you goes to everyone who donated a toy and to SGI & Zellers for their generosity. The Salvation Army will distribute all toys to needy families on December 22nd. Labels: Christmas, Donate, Family Services, Saskatoon, Upcoming Events
Fowl Supper
 The Salvation Army Community Centre is hosting a Fowl Supper on October 24th, 2009 in our dining room at 5:00 p.m.
Tickets are $10 a person and can be purchased from the Family Services desk. All proceeds are going to the Centre's community programming. Labels: Family Services, Food Services, Upcoming Events
2008 Camp Dates for Beaver Creek Camps
Ministry Weekend | May 23-25, 2008
- Who: The Salvation Army Community Centre together with local churches.
- What: Speakers, bands, and food.
- When May 23-25th, 2008
- Where: Salvation Army Community Centre Parking lot
For more information or to volunteer, please contact Crystal or Cindy at 242-6833 Labels: Family Services, Life at the Centre, Riversdale, Saskatoon, Upcoming Events
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The Salvation Army Community Centre is hosting a Fall Supper on October 17 at 5:00 p.m. and 6:00 p.m.
