'You matter': Special delivery arrives in northern Saskatchewan

Cardboard boxes full of handwritten cards arrived in La Ronge, Sask., Wednesday in a display of support for northern communities facing a suicide crisis.

"I think it can make a huge difference just knowing that somebody cares and somebody's giving you words of encouragement," saidLac LaRongeIndian Band chief TammyCook-Searsonas the letters arrived.

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Six young girls have taken their lives in northern Saskatchewan communities since the start of October.

Fran Forsberg started thecard-writing campaign last week to let young people in northern Saskatchewan know how much people were thinking about them.

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"I want them to know that they matter," she said.

"That there's people out there that care about them."

She invited people to go to the Grosvenor Park United Church in Saskatoon and write cards of support for children in northern communities.

Forsberg also heard from people as far away as Toronto. She said two schools there sent her messages expressing their support and offering to send cards.

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On Wednesday, the boxes of cards arrived in La Ronge, which is about 380 kilometres north of Saskatoon.

Handwritten messages spilled out of the boxes as Cook-Searsonhelped to open them.

"Some of the letters that I read are about, you know, thepeople that are writing themhave been through their own struggles also. And sharing that and saying that there's brighter days to come, keep your hopes up,and praying for you, and not to give up. It means lots."

Cook-Searson said it meant a lot to know people took time to send their thoughts to youth in the north.