Some Saskatoon at-risk youth are spending the summer helping senior citizens take care of their yards.
EGADZ and the Saskatoon Health Region announced today the Action to Employment program where by young people will do work around the yard year round for Senior citizens.
Executive Director Don Meikle says the idea for the program came from one of the youth with EGADZ who wanted to do something to give back to the community.
“At first, she wanted to pick garbage in parks for people but then she said, ‘What about seniors?’,” says Meikle.
He then approached local businesses looking for equipment.
“We actually went to Saskatoon Truck Centre and asked them for a deal on a truck and they actually gave us the truck,” says Meikle. “We went to Canadian Tire stores to ask for a deal on lawnmowers and equipment, they gave us the stuff.”
The Action to Employment program also received seed money from the Saskatoon Community Foundation to get things going.
Homes First also provided some money for the project.
There is no fee for the service with seniors paying whatever they can.