Ron Woytowich is seen with last year's shipment of food. (Derek Cornet/larongeNOW Staff)

By Derek Cornet

food security

Kikinahk secures funding for 300 Christmas hampers

Nov 23, 2022 | 4:01 PM

Three hundred families from the tri-communities will receive a Christmas food hamper next month courtesy of the Kikinahk Friendship Centre.

“It’s nice to know the funds are coming and that no matter what, we are close and we don’t have to start asking the community for money,” executive director Ron Woytowich said. “For the first time in a long time, it seems to be coming together early.”

This will be the highest amount of food hampers Kikinahk has ever distributed as part of the annual program. In 2019, only 140 hampers were given away, so the numbers have doubled in three years.

Hampers will all include a ham, a bag of potatoes, a box of oranges, and vegetables. The estimated cost of the hampers is $30,000, which will be covered by Cameco, Orano, and Prince Albert’s Northern Lights Casino.

“That part is fantastic, it really is,” Woytowich said. “We’re buying this stuff wholesale and it is hard especially this year, the wholesalers are saying they are having troubles getting certain kinds of food and he warned me not to try for turkeys because you won’t be able to order just one size. Everything is just kind of falling into place now.”

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Families involved with Kikinahk’s Head Start, prenatal and social services programs will all be automatically signed up to receive a hamper. The application period for the public will begin soon and forms will be available at Kikinahk.

Woytowich explained to prevent duplication of services, residents should not apply if they will already be receiving hampers from the Lac La Ronge Indian Band or another source.

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derek.cornet@pattisonmedia.com

Twitter: @saskjourno