In response to growing demands for food to families across the province, Food Banks of Saskatchewan has launched a $6M province-wide campaign top ensure families do not go hungry in the coming six months.
Donations are being accepted at: www.skfoodbanks.ca. Food Banks of Saskatchewan is a provincial association of food banks who served around 40,000 people per month in 2019, 42% of them children, throughout the province.
The hope is that the 32 Food Banks in Saskatchewan will have enough food to be able to assist what is expected to be a major surge in numbers to economically vulnerable families.
Laurie O’Connor, Executive Director of Saskatoon Food Bank & Learning Centre, said in a news release it was “a crisis unlike any we have ever experienced. As we witnessed in the recession in 2008, food banks were hard pressed to meet demand. We anticipate that the economic impact of COVID-19 will see thousands of people visiting us who never imagined they would be forced to rely on a food bank to survive.”
According to Food Banks of Saskatchewan a donation of $100 will feed two families for a week, while $400 will feed eight families.
Also according to their news release, Food Banks are also setting up satellite locations for distribution of food while minimizing social contact. Local teams are also ramping up the creation of To-Go boxes for quick food hamper pick up.
Information can be found at www.skfoodbanks.ca and their email address is Info@dcgsk.com.
Erin Katerynych, Executive Director, Empty Stocking Fund/Battlefords District Food & Resource Centre, is urging those in the local area they can donate directly through their own website, or by mail to ensure the money goes directly to the Battlefords District Food & Resource Centre.
She cited numbers from March, where they handed out 736 emergency food hampers helping 2,134 people. 45% children, representing over ten percent of the population of the Battlefords and surrounding communities.
In a statement about the campaign Katerynych said the following:
“I have been involved with the Battlefords District Food & Resource Centre for 15 years. one thing I know is that my community and my province has always stepped up to the call for help when other people are in need. In these uncertain times when we are all unsure of what the future holds we must band together to ensure no one is left behind.”
