1997
Year Established
20+
Schools Supported
23
Mentor Companies
5,000+
Students Impacted
Annually
OUR MISSION
OUR MISSION
To ensure all children have an opportunity to develop all of their potential: in sports, in school, in culture and in recreation.
OUR VISION
To build a better community, one kid at a time. Most of all, we work to put smiles on these children’s faces and give them pride in what they do. This confidence and support is what will motivate them to achieve in the future.
OUR GOAL
To connect Saskatoon’s businesses, schools, and the community to give less fortunate children the same opportunities, education, dignity, hope, and role models, that every child deserves.
6,000+
Turkey Dinners Served Each Year
1,800
Hours of 1 on 1 Reading
2,000+
Coats and boots for Kids
225
Babysitters Trained
PROGRAMS
The Dignity Fund was established in 1998 to maintain and enhance the self-esteem of children in community schools. School Coordinators are given gift cards, enabling them to immediately attend to any daily living needs for their students, such as hygiene products, winter clothing, shoes, etc. The Dignity Fund is unique to Care & Share and is one of our cornerstones.
In 1997, Care & Share with the help of Canadian Progress Club Saskatoon Downtown provided a Christmas lunch for all the students and staff at St. Michael School. It was then decided that every child in Saskatoon’s community schools, regardless of their religious or ethnic background, should be entitled to a holiday feast at least once a year. With the help of sponsors, major hotels and local restaurants we now serve over 6000 hot turkey dinners in 18 schools.
The KICS program began as an indoor soccer league at the Soccer Centre for community school children in grades 3, 4 and 5. In 2014, the program moved to the schools and was incorporated into the Phys.Ed curriculum. The U of S Huskies send two players to each of the schools to teach a 4-week program complete with drills and scrimmages.
Care & Share partnered with Saskatchewan Polytechnic 1st year nursing students who complete 40 hours of one-on-one reading with students in four schools. The program ensures literacy remains a priority and students reach their full potential.
Each year, families from across Saskatoon donate new and gently used bikes to Rock 102's Bikes for Kids. In 2003, Care & Share became the “charity of choice” for ROCK 102. Since then, ROCK 102 has raised a significant amount of money and heightened awareness of our programs. Bikes for Kids is a pillar in this partnership, and the program continues to allow students to have their own bikes each spring.
In 2005, at the request of the community school coordinators, Care & Share hired St. John Ambulance to provide 150 kids with the opportunity to become certified through the Babysitter Program. In many instances, these youth are often placed in the position of caregiver for their family. Each year, this program prepares 225 young people to deal with emergency situations; it helps develop their work ethic allowing them to earn some money and enhances their self esteem.
Certified yoga instructors are hired to teach yoga to over 1,000 children in 18 schools once a week for 4-6 weeks. As they practice yoga, they learn about the benefits of increased focus, concentration, flexibility and strength. It has become a very popular program.
Established in 2005 by the Law Enforcement Guardians. 30 bikes, helmets, safety vests & repair kits were purchased as well as a trailer for storage and transport. In 2019 Davis Machine became the title sponsor. Along with the financial contribution, they haul the trailer to the 20 schools each spring and fall. SportChek repairs and tunes the bikes. Students are taught how to properly operate a bike safely and legally. Older classrooms are able to book the bikes for longer day trips.
Many children attending community schools do not arrive at school with the required tools to assist in learning. Care & Share helps provide these school supplies so all the kids have an equal opportunity for success. Cases of supplies are given to 20 community school coordinators in September and January for distribution as needed.
Each year, 2-3 schools are chosen to receive the hundreds of toys that are donated by the people of Saskatoon during the holiday season. Rogers/Shaw provides a Toy Tree for use through November and December every year. Western Development Museum places the Toy Tree at the centre of the museum and collects the toys.
In 2003, a bowling program was set up at Fairhaven Bowl for students in grades 3, 4, and 5. With assistance in funding from KidSport, Saskatchewan Lotteries and City of Saskatoon, each year 500 children are able to learn the sport of bowling. Classes from the 19 community schools are invited to take part in 4 weeks of instruction and play.
Rock 102 is partnered with Care & Share to deliver winter coats, boots, toques and mitts to the children in Saskatoon's community schools. Often, when it’s cold and students don’t have the proper winter wear, then they don’t go to school. The goal of this program is to make sure all are safe and warm enough to go to school.
ABOUT
The early concept of Care & Share was initiated in 1997 by Ted Merriman and Sid Katzman, local businessmen and community volunteers who believed there was a need to help bring some joy to the lives of less-fortunate children in Saskatoon. Mr. Merriman, a member of the Saskatoon Men's Chapter of the Canadian Progress Club, and Sid Katzman, President of the B’nai Brith, along with a small group of friends and associates, arrived at St. Michael School just before Christmas. With them they had a few cooked turkeys and all the fixings and they served up a great meal to 160 eager elementary school kids.
The reception these gentlemen received so touched their hearts they thought there must be more that they can do. Ted brought the idea forward to the Canadian Progress Club who jumped on board immediately. This marked the start of the Holiday Lunch Program. In year two, with the support of the Canadian Progress Club, the program was expanded and over 5,000 hot meals were served to kids (Kindergarten to Grade 8) in their schools in Saskatoon's inner-city.
This marked the birth of Care & Share Saskatoon Inc. which has evolved into a multi-dimensional charitable organization meeting countless needs of Saskatoon's community school children. Care & Share now funds programs and makes them available to all 17 Saskatoon community schools by partnering with various organizations in Saskatoon to facilitate our programs and services. All programs and goods and services are provided to the schools at no cost.
CONTACT
Inquiries
If you have any questions or would like to help, contact any one of our volunteer board members or Sandi Meldrum, Executive Director at 306-220-9230.
Donations
To make a donation, click the link below.
Care & Share Saskatoon Inc.
Charitable Tax Number: 86647 7763 RR0001
Mailing Address
PO Box 31025 Broadway
Saskatoon, SK
S7H 5S8