The day began at the MCC Centre (thank you MCC!) with guest speaker (and alumnus) Lynette Zacharias sharing the story of how she founded Farm-in-the-Dell, a group home and vocational centre for adults with special needs. Three students will be volunteering there this week. She also shared about other experiences that she has had working in community schools in Saskatoon and up north that opened her eyes to the '3rd world' right in Saskatchewan. We certainly don't need to travel that far to find need in the world.
After this introduction we traveled downtown to visit The Lighthouse, a shelter and housing initiative. Our guide was another alumnus, Deeann Mercier (Isaak). It is quite encouraging to see RJC grads making a difference in the world! The amount of people that use the programming at the The Lighthouse is astounding. I have heard and read of the need for housing in Saskatoon, but to see, feel, and smell it was impacting. I never knew so much was going on right downtown either. While there, we also heard from some representatives of 'Straight Up' a gang rehabilitation group that works with Father Andre, a respected priest who ministers to those in gangs. It was one of the speaker's birthday, so we sang 'Happy Birthday' to him. It was moving to see him touched by this simple gesture. People are people.
After the Lighthouse tour it was lunch and the students were placed in groups, given a toonie each, and sent into the downtown core to complete an 'urban plunge scavenger hunt' and to buy the best lunch they could with the money they were given. Through these tasks many food security issues became apparent. After this exercise we volunteered at the Saskatoon Food Bank and then ended the day journaling at the MCC Centre.
There is need in Saskatoon, but it was inspiring to see and meet many people who are working to make a difference! Tomorrow we split up and go to volunteer at: 1) Vincent Massey Community School, 2) Habitat for Humanity Saskatoon, and 3) Farm-in-the-Dell in Aberdeen.
