Simply Satisfied Catering is thriving in spite of restrictions
By Joan Janzen
joanjanzen@yahoo.com
Kelly Skappak, owner of Simply Satisfied Catering in Kindersley, has been serving people delicious meals for almost nine years. Her love of cooking began when she was growing up on a farm in the Acadia Valley area, along with her three siblings.
“I was the designated cook of the house. I probably started cooking at age 14,” Kelly said. Her culinary pursuits continued as she also helped cater with her dad. In January of 2012, she officially started her own business, Simply Satisfied Catering, after purchasing equipment from a friend who was going out of the catering business.
Her local catering business provided service for all events, both big and small, serving requested meals at an affordable price. Word spread quickly, and Kelly’s business began to grow.
“When I first started, I had a few jobs a month. Within a year, I quit my job, and I was catering full time,” she said. In 2014, Kelly gave birth to the oldest of her two sons and kept right on working, only stopping to take a couple of months off. “Then my business exploded. Every year after that, my business was increasing.”
Kelly didn’t turn down any business, no matter how big or small. The largest event Simply Satisfied catered was 550 guests at graduation in Kindersley. Kelly had eight people on her roster who worked part-time.
In March of 2020, this single mom of two boys was devastated when Covid hit. “Basically, within a week, my entire year and half of bookings were cancelled. I hardly worked at all from March right up until October 2020,” she explained. “The summer of 2020 was very depressing, but I did my best to keep my head on straight. I have faith in God, and that kept me going. Without Him, I don’t know if I would have had the emotional strength to do it.”
No matter what life threw at her, Kelly was determined to find a way to make her business work. She was determined to teach her kids that you have to keep moving forward regardless of what’s happening. “It was pretty hard, but I had to make it work,” she concluded.
Previously, Kelly would cater office lunches during her slow season, but restrictions put that on hold. However, in October, she put the word out that she was providing individually packaged lunches. “That allowed my business to get up and running again, and it also helped out a lot of people in Kindersley, especially those who were quarantining,” she said. Kelly conveniently delivered the meals to the customer’s doorstep.
Now that people are back at work, they’re still enjoying Kelly’s lunches. “It’s quick and easy, healthy, homemade and fresh. I have a different menu every week, and people like that,” Kelly said. She also offers different ethnic cuisine that is not otherwise readily available in Kindersley. “It also helps people broaden their perspective and try something new.”
Kelly shops locally for her catering groceries, wanting to support the local businesses. The local community is also supporting Simply Satisfied Catering. “I am making between 15-30 lunches a day,” Kelly noted. Her catering service not only helps her customers out, but it allows Kelly to be at home with her two sons, ages three and six years, who enjoy the spray park and playing ball.
Kelly loves to try making new dishes. “I like to successfully try new things. Today I received so many compliments, and I made something I’ve never tried before,” she said, describing a sweet and spicy Vietnamese chicken dish she had made. She also provides gluten-free food and caters to those who have allergies and other dietary needs. “And the food is still tasty, exciting and not boring,” she added.
How does Kelly create all these tasty meals while raising two young sons? She answered, “I work a lot of late nights. On average, I work until 3:00 in the morning and am up at 8:00 with the kids. It takes a lot of time. I make sure I schedule my life carefully, and I also have patient children.”
And what advice would she give to other single moms? She advised single moms not to be afraid to lean on the people who love them and ask for help when they need it. “Have faith in yourself and push through,” she said. “You might have to put in long hours, but it will be worth it in the end because you’ll be proud of what you’ve accomplished. We should all have each other’s backs because we’re not meant to be alone.”
