The Wednesday lunchtime conversation in the library was about the tasty food prepared by Holy Rosary students and the services provided by the Men’s Shelter in downtown Lloydminster.
The Lloydminster Public Library played host to its first Lunch and Chat Wednesday where local non-profits will get a chance to share about the work that they do.
Valerie Lazicki, executive director of the Lloydminster Social Action Coalition Society which oversees the Men’s Shelter says the meet and greet was useful to connect with people and give some more details of their services.
“Lots of people wanted to talk about how mental health and addictions affect the people that we serve – and how we support them with their mental health struggles.”
In 2020, the Men’s Shelter provided 5,945 beds with an average of 800 meals per month. In 2022, the shelter served about 1,200 meals per month and offered 7,189 beds. Those numbers dwarf the fact that its nightly bed capacity is 28.
While the bigger conversations of expanding the service remain on the dream board, Lazicki says the need for the service continues to rise.
“We are seeing an increase in people that are coming to the shelter. An increase of not only men, but women who are coming to the shelter because they do not have any other options. They are coming from surrounding communities that perhaps don’t provide supportive services for unhoused people.”
Lazicki says they have a multitude of needs besides shelter, meals, and clothing – “you name it.” This includes also laundry services and showers. Lazicki says they are expanding those basic services to serve their clients.
The challenge is also to serve people who are born and raised in Lloydminster and for a number of reasons have fallen on hard times, says Lazicki.
“Their family loves them, and they worry about them – and they maybe have a relationship with their family, but they are not able to stay with them.”
The Lloydminster Public Library will be continuing its Lunch and Chat, every Wednesday from noon until Dec. 6. Oct. 25 will see Midwest Family Connections.
