Local sources of no-cost food detailed in report

---

A report by the Society for the Involvement of Good Neighbours (SIGN) and Suncrest College Applied Research team has identified 12 places where those facing food insecurity can find food at no cost.

Seven of the locations are open or available to the public, most with specific hours of operation except for the Community Fridge, which is open all day every day. Four -- including three which are part of the local education system -- restrict access to specific groups and one, Bruno's Place, is open at various times to the public or only to clients.

The report provides detailed information including locations, hours of operation, restrictions on access and types of food available. It is available in PDF form, including detailed maps of the locations, by clicking the buttons below on this page.

“This provides some critical data to agencies in our community who support individuals who are food insecure,” SIGN Executive Director Andrew Sedley said. “It also gives us as a community the data we need for advocacy, so we can enhance the systems already in place and identify what else can and needs to be done.”

The project was conducted by a team of Suncrest College Applied Research newcomer students, who conducted personal surveys and interviews with the 12 organizations providing no-cost food. The team was led by Alesia Malec, Coordinator of Applied Research at Suncrest College.

"This multi-agency partnership was a perfect collaboration because it served everyone, including Suncrest College's Skills for Success for Newcomers program, along with our Applied Research team, Ms Malec says. “If there are persons not sure where to go for their next meal, we hope they can find comfort knowing that information exists and is accessible. If we're able to help someone out there, then we've done our job."

Following are key findings in the report:

• Service times for no cost food are predominantly concentrated during weekday daytime periods. Morning and midday hours are the most common service times. Significant gaps were identified after 4 pm on weekdays and throughout the weekends.
• Seven organizations serve the public, four organizations serve school children, and one organization, Bruno's Place, serves the public as well as shelter clients.
• The types of foods available at local organizations range from non- perishable items to full hot meals.
• The Yorkton Community Fridge was the only location to include infant food and infant formula on its list of available foods.
• St. Andrew's United Church, Yorkton DreamCentre Church and BGCYorkton may impose restrictions on clients, depending on resources available, number of times a person accesses resources, or if a person is registered with another food program.
• The scan highlighted opportunities to more evenly distribute services around the city, across organizations, and throughout days of the week and times of the day.