Pictured above: Food for hampers waiting to be delivered to Fond du Lac households

Every single household in Fond Du Lac, SK, has received an assortment of essential food items, thanks to a community-wide hamper initiative on December 2. 

To follow COVID-19 safety precautions and help curb the spread of the virus, the Fond Du Lac Northern store has remained closed to in-person sales. This brought about the issue of heightened food insecurity within the community.

Knowing the community could use a helping hand, the Fond Du Lac Denesuline First Nation partnered with Fond Du Lac Northern to provide 250 hampers to the community’s households.

Each food hamper consisted of coffee, sugar, bread, milk, eggs and rice, and was delivered by the Chief and Council staff to all households in the community to ensure that during tough times, residents still have access to basic essentials.

Rasa Kanagaiah, Fond Du Lac Northern Store Manager, knew that the food hampers would go a long way in supporting the community.

“These unprecedented times and the closure of the store to in-person sales took a heavy toll on the community in terms of food insecurity. Lots of people could not afford to bulk up on groceries, and so providing the food hampers helped ensure people had the basic essentials while staying home,” said Kanagaiah.