PHR overwhelmed by community donations

When Prairie Harm Reduction (PHR) was down, the community of Saskatoon stood up.

Just over three weeks following the news of the harm reduction organization’s rejection of provincial funding, more than 350 donations have come in from the community.

That’s according to a very grateful executive director, Jason Mercredi.

“It’s been kind of a crazy, whirlwind month. We had one fundraiser planned for April, Darkside Donuts. Then it just snowballed,” he said. “People have been donating in droves to the agency. It’s just been nuts.”

PHR was hoping to get provincial funding to expand its current hours of operation — Monday to Friday for six hours daily. Mercredi told 650 CKOM on April 6 the government’s decision “stings,” knowing the hours of operation would stay the same.

That may not be the case after April, thanks to the community.

“We’re hopeful that we’re going to have a total (for donations) that we’re going to be able to announce some new initiatives with the safe consumption site. We’re hoping that we’re going to be able to expand hours. We’ll know next week,” he said.

“Whether (donors are) selling one particular item, they were dedicating takeout one day to us, or we have had anything from smokies to cinnamon buns at Sparrow Coffee and donuts … it’s all hands on deck from the community and it’s been crazy.”

So far, 62 donors have opened their wallets within the last month for PHR. That includes large donations from Saskatoon Co-op, Broadway Theatre and Darkside Donuts.

‘We make great popcorn, and support our community when we can’

During the Broadway Theatre’s fundraiser, eager customers lined the block surrounding the theatre, all looking for some buttery goodness.

“We make great popcorn, and support our community when we can,” said Aryn Oeterbin, operations manager at the theatre.

(Twitter/Broadway Theatre)

“We sold a little over $10,000 worth of popcorn. That’s a pretty decent amount of popcorn at $10 a bag.”

The final tally was just under $11,000, according to Oeterbin. Many didn’t just buy the popcorn either, they gave separate donations after the fact.

“It was nice, because we haven’t had that in such a long time,” she said. “Our staff hasn’t been that greasy and salty in years.”

At the Broadway Theatre, staff are given training on non-violent intervention. Staff are also paid to get naloxone training, Oeterbin added.

“We’re a community-owned and -operated space, and that means those who use drugs are also a part of our community. It’s our role to make sure that there are the appropriate supports for them in our city,” she said.

“We truly believe that Prairie Harm Reduction saves lives (and) saves the lives of our community members. We believe they should have got the supports they needed from the government … It’s really disheartening that it was necessary in the first place.”

This was the second successful fundraising campaign by the Broadway Theatre for PHR.

‘Customers coming in, doctors coming in, all the different folks”

Each and every month, Saskatoon’s Darkside Donuts raises funds for community organizations. In April, it was PHR’s turn.

The decision was made prior to the April budget announcement, and co-owner Bryn Rawlyk said with each special donut sold, $1 heads to the organization.

Susan Shaw, Chief Medical Officer for the Saskatchewan Health Authority shares a photo of her PHR donut from Darkside Donuts in Saskatoon. (Twitter/Susan Shaw Wear A Mask Save A Life)

“This month so far, we’ve sold 4,159 of the Prairie Harm Reduction donuts. There will be a few more until the last day they’re available, which is Sunday. Then we’ll cut a cheque and pass it off to them,” he said.

“It’s been really cool to see all the different ways that people have been raising money. Customers coming in, doctors coming in, all the different folks coming in — it’s great.”

Rawlyk described the government’s decision not to fund PHR as “unfortunate.” When it comes to the community support, though, he said that’s great to see.

“(With) the positive conversation around harm reduction in our city — and more broadly, our province — (and) with the increasing challenges that the opioid crisis creates, this is one way, one tool in the multi-kit of tools, to address this challenge,” he said.

Rawlyk said they hope to break the 5,000-donut-sold plateau before time runs out this weekend.

‘I thought about how I could step up to the plate’

When Saskatoon Realty Executive’s Jon Aschenbrener saw the province’s decision not to fund PHR, he was disappointed.

A Saskatoon realtor is stepping up to help out Prairie Harm Reduction. (Twitter/prairehr)

But it was the community’s work, stepping up for PHR, that gave him a wild idea.

“I saw all these beautiful community members and organizations and businesses stepped up to the plate, and I thought about how I could step up to the plate,” he said.

The realtor will be donating five per cent of every sale or build he makes to PHR. That translates to around $200 to $600 per transaction.

“I grew up on a farm, but I’ve been living in beautiful Saskatoon for 18 years and it’s always treated me well. The community of Saskatoon always surprises me by their generosity and how they step up to the plate when people like the government don’t — it makes my heart smile,” he said.

The future of PHR

On April 6, Mercredi struggled to find the words as to what’s next for PHR. After April, though, the goal remains the same.

“We definitely need government funding long term to be sustainable,” he said. “Even today, we stopped two people from dying today and the day’s just half over for us.”

Mercredi explained the reasoning behind a “drug alert” tweet as well from Wednesday.

***DRUG ALERT***
2 OD's in the past 1.5 hours. Both pink/purple meth.
Multiple naloxone shots administered on both occasions.#YXE #YXEDrugAlert

— prairiehr (@prairiehr) April 28, 2021

There were two overdoses, which happened Wednesday afternoon at PHR.

“Pink, purple meth — they called it ‘champagne,’ ” he said.

Mercredi said the two individuals had never done opioids before, but both dropped as soon as they began smoking the substance. PHR was able to revive the pair, without the help of an ambulance or time in a hospital bed.

He said that’s just another example of the work PHR does.

“The human toll is real. The cost savings are real. Every day, we’re showing that the site is needed,” he said.

The government has not spoken to PHR since prior to the April 6 budget announcement. Mercredi is hopeful that one day, funding can be secured for the safe consumption site.

“In the meantime, we’re going to have to rely on the community. But we’re hoping that eventually, the government’s going to do the right thing and fund the site … We’re always willing to work with government,” he said.