Marilyn Robak, an organizer of a special community breakfast, says the event is a chance to “build bridges” between folks experiencing homelessness and the rest of the community by “breaking bread and sharing stories.” Tomorrow morning the annual Friendship Breakfast will take place in downtown Yellowknife.
Robak, who is a member pf the Rotary Club, began the Friendship Breakfast because she felt it was important to get to know the folks in Yellowknife who are facing homelessness
“I think the world will be a better place if we just reach out to each other,” she said.
It’s been ten years since annual event first took place in the city of Yellowknife. Robak says it all began when Rotary club members engaged with Lydia Bardak, an advocate for people facing homelessness, who at that time was the executive director of the John Howard Society. Bardak came to the Rotary Club one day and started talking with some of the members about some of the experiences of people facing homelessness in the city.
“We talked to her about what can we do for people who are homeless and she suggested just getting to know them is a really good start and that’s how it started,” reflected Robak.
And it just grew from there, with the community turning out, keeping the event returning each year.
“It’s been really terrific, we get lots of people coming in and I think they just leave a little bit feeling a little bit better about about their own community,” said Robak.
Folks can attend the gathering to ”share a little breakfast and some conversation,” something that many of us might take for granted.
“In our society, in order to protect ourselves, we put up too many walls and we’re afraid to look over them. And this is a way to do that in a way that’s friendly. It’s just something that I think is important for us to do is just to get to know each other a bit better,” said Roback.
People experiencing homelessness have responded positively to the event, says Roback.
The Friendship Breakfast acknowledges them as valuable members of the community, who have emotional and mental needs as well as basic physical needs, like anyone else.
“They really appreciate the food and the effort that we’re making just to say hey, you’re more than just a homeless person, you’re a whole person and we want to know who you are,” said Roback.
Because folks facing homelessness experience a tremendous amount of stigma and discrimination on a daily basis, positive interactions are critical.
“When somebody shows you enough respect to speak to you respectfully it’s meaningful, especially when you spend your day getting side eye glances from people on the street, it’s nice to be respected,” said Roback.
Roback said everyone is welcome to come out and have a meaningful interaction and a good time – “whether they have a roof over their heads or are sleeping rough for whatever reason” – to eat some breakfast and get to know their other neighbours. The Rotary Club is also asking people if they can bring things like soaps and toothbrushes, socks and even things like books (especially by northern or Indigenous authors) and card games for donations.
The Rotary club is also accepting donations like summer shoes, feminine hygiene products, pyjamas, sweats, T-shirts, boxers, bras, and small sewing kits.
The Friendship Breakfast has served many a breakfast sandwiches and countless cups of coffee with the help of Rotary Club members and other volunteers.
This year’s event takes place Aug. 6, from 7 a.m. to 9 a.m. in Somba K’e Civic Plaza, beside City Hall and on the shores of Frame Lake.
