PHR to expand hours, hire more staff after more than $180K in April donations

What an April it was for Prairie Harm Reduction (PHR).

The Saskatoon safe consumption site had at least 62 businesses and organizations donate to its facility during the calendar month. Originally, it had planned just one fundraiser with Darkside Donuts.

Following the provincial government’s rejection of a $1.3-million ask by PHR to keep the safe consumption site open on a 24-7 basis, the fundraising snowball began to pick up some steam.

Businesses across the prairies gave what they could, and PHR executive director Jason Mercredi joined the Brent Loucks Show on Monday to unveil the April fundraising totals.

“As of this morning, we have $180,992.43. It’s absolutely stunning,” he said.

With nearly $181,000 raised, Mercredi said the facility’s hours of operation will expand.

He earmarked June as the potential start of PHR being open in the evenings. Whether that be until 9 p.m. or 10 p.m. depends on PHR’s upcoming budget meetings.

The thousands upon thousands of dollars are also going to help out staffing at the site, Mercredi added.

“We’re pretty excited. It means we’re going to be able to hire another paramedic, potentially another support worker, and then we’ll probably be relying on volunteers to help fill out what would normally be staff,” he said.

Mercredi said provincial funding is still needed to continue operations at PHR. He said PHR is now hopeful the province will reverse its decision, made prior to the budget on April 6.

During the fundraising campaigns in April, businesses donated sales — or portions of sales — of products or donated lump sums to PHR.

The campaigns included donut sales, pole-dancing classes, popcorn sales, clothing sales, a realtor donating portions of his commission sales, and a variety of unique ways to keep building on PHR’s fundraising budget.