More residents using food banks in Saskatchewan, according to report

SASKATOON – Roughly three-quarters of food banks in Saskatchewan are seeing an increase in the number of people they’re serving, according to a national report released Tuesday.

“People are struggling; people are not making enough money to make ends meet,” said Laurie O’Connor, executive director of the Saskatoon Food Bank.

“We used to see about five per cent of Saskatoon’s population, we’re now seeing over seven per cent,” she added.

Food Banks Canada’s 2015 ‘Hunger Count’ report on food bank use in the country found that 74 per cent of food banks in Saskatchewan are reporting an increase in 2015, compared to last year. The national average is 54 per cent.

READ MORE: Going Hungry: Food bank visits spike across Canada – in Alberta most of all

“Over the last 15 years, food bank use has not dropped below 700,000 Canadians each and every month, that’s far too many people,” said Katharine Schmidt, Food Banks Canada executive director, at a press conference in Ottawa.

The high cost of housing and food in Saskatoon is driving more people to the food bank, according to O’Connor.

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“We’re seeing an increase of seniors using our services, students using our service and working families,” she said.

Watch below: Meeting basic food needs during the holidays

The report was made public on the same day the Saskatoon Food Bank announced the beginning of its largest annual food drive and fundraiser. O’Connor said the organization’s goal was to raise $500,000 and collect 500,000 pounds of food.

“This is what stocks our shelves, this is what keeps us going,” said O’Connor after the announcement.

“Without it, we simply wouldn’t be able to operate to the capacity we do now.”

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PotashCorp has announced it will match monetary donations to the food bank, up to $1 million.

“It’s an important partnership for us and it’s an important part of food security for the people of Saskatchewan,” said Leanne Bellegarde, PotashCorp’s director of diversity and inclusion.

“Saskatchewan is where we live and work … it’s a community that we feel proud of giving back to and supporting.”