Volunteers serve up a turkey dinner to the homeless at the PAGC Urban Services on Nov. 17, 2023. (Derek Craddock/paNOW Staff)

By Derek Craddock

HELPING HAND

‘We like to give back’: PAGC offers turkey dinner to Prince Albert’s less fortunate

Nov 17, 2023 | 5:00 PM

The Prince Albert Grand Council (PAGC) opened its doors to the less fortunate on Friday as part of its continuous mission to help the city’s homeless.

A free turkey dinner was offered at the PAGC Urban Services (former Margo Fournier Centre) thanks to a number of businesses and volunteers.

Hundreds of people came to the building for the free lunch, which Geoff Despins, Director of Urban Services said wasn’t the first time they’ve done it.

“A few times we already had meals here out of our building (but) this is probably the first Turkey dinner,” he said. “We had hot dogs already, we had hamburgers, we had soup and sandwiches, and it’s just different meals we’re going to have throughout the winter, maybe every couple weeks we’ll plan something new.”

(Derek Craddock/paNOW Staff)

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Geoff Despins (right) with PAGC Urban Services and Mark Ripley of Mann-Northway. (Derek Craddock/paNOW Staff)

“We like to give back and that’s what we want to do is just give back to the community and help our vulnerable people,” added Despins.

Jerry Yooya with the PAGC helped out at the dinner on Friday. Having been on the streets for years himself, he understands the plight the homeless endure and was willing to lend a hand.

He said services like this are badly needed in Prince Albert.

“Right now, where do people go to have a good meal?,” he said. “Moose Lodge used to serve meals two to three times a day before but that’s closed now. This is a good thing happening.”

READ MORE: PAGC responds to closure of homeless kitchen, cites funding issues

He noted that the Friday dinner would not have been made possible without support from businesses like Mann-Northway, River Bank Developments, Athabasca Basin Developments, Lake Country Co-op, and organizations like the YWCA, First Nations University, and SIIT.

“We have different organizations out there supporting our event and working together and absolutely coming together.”

The PAGC has been offering the meals inside the Urban Services building, which they’ve only owned for about a year after purchasing it from the City of Prince Albert.

Since taking possession, they’ve renovated the interior, opening it up for its different programs, meals, as well as classes through SIIT.

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derek.craddock@pattisonmedia.com