Saskatoon REALTORS® (SRAR) have supported the CHEP (Children’s Hunger and Education Program) for ten plus years. During this time SRAR members have donated in excess of $22,000.
CHEP is a Saskatoon grassroots organization founded in 1989 to find long term solutions to hunger for children. Working with community parent groups, nutritious meal programs for children in schools were quickly established in many Saskatoon schools. But long term solutions required that CHEP also organize diverse programs that benefit families – programs such as co-operative buying systems, collective kitchens and community gardens, children’s cooking and others. More recently CHEP has responded to community identified need and started mini-stores in seniors’ apartment buildings, neighbourhood markets
CHEP’s community building model means that people gain skills, make connections, and in turn help others. All programs promote fresh foods which are crucial for health and well-being. Local farmers also benefit by selling fresh food to CHEP programs and also from the links made with urban customers. Food is special in its power to mobilize people to action.
Recently CHEP met with many families who have been impacted by increased rents – rents so high that there is little money left for food. CHEP is working to improve access to our good food programs such as the Good Food Box and to neighbourhood markets where famlies can purchase healthy foods at wholesale cost. This enables them to be self reliant and to continue to keep a roof over their childrens heads as well as a meal on the table.
Friends in the community, such as SRAR members, help CHEP offer these innovative and valuable programs.
Pictured: Shari Turner, SRAR Director and REALTORS Care® Committee Chair presenting this year’s SRAR member donation of $2,226.00 to CHEP Executive Director Karen Archibald.
