THE BATTLEFORDS - With the province providing more funding to food banks, the local Battlefords food bank said it couldn't have come at a more needy time.
The Government of Saskatchewan announced recently it will deliver $2 million over two years to food banks across the province "to help Saskatchewan families and food banks with high food costs."
According to the province, the Ministry of Social Services is partnering with Food Banks of Saskatchewan to distribute the funding to agencies based on the population and average food bank usage of the communities they serve.
"Saskatchewan Food Banks have had their busiest year yet, making it challenging to build up sufficient food reserves," Food Banks of Saskatchewan executive director Michael Kincade said in a release. "Inflation continues to accelerate, seriously impacting hunger and food insecurity, not only with low-income households, but even those in higher income brackets. With demand increasing and donations decreasing, this help comes at a critical time to help us feed our friends, neighbours, and families."
Battlefords District Food and Resource Centre executive director Erin Katerynych told SaskToday the local food bank expects to receive about $35,000 this year that should be coming in August, and again in 2025-26 another $35,000 from the province's new allotment.
"It couldn't come at a better time because our shelves are empty," she said. "We're super busy and we need food."
Katerynych noted there is a lack of people donating food in the summer time making it difficult for the Food Bank to keep up its supplies for hampers.
"Hunger doesn't take a break in the summer," she said. "We're just trying to make ends meet, but we have had to cut back on our hamper size because we don't have the supplies to meet the demand. So, this money that we are told we're supposed to be receiving is coming at the perfect time."
With the new funding, the food bank will be able to restock its shelves.
"We need food," Katerynych said. "It will help towards purchasing food, so that we can help the people who are accessing the food bank."
In May of this year the food bank had more than 2,300 people come and access its hampers. In June the Food bank distributed 31,680 pounds of food to recipients through the Food Hamper programs.
Katerynych noted that Food Banks Canada says the value of food is now $3.58 a pound. So, in the month of June alone, the local Food Bank gave out $113,414 worth of food.
Battlefords District Food and Resource Centre helps more than 30 other smaller communities, not just Battleford and North Battleford. It also serves the surrounding area including Saulteaux First Nation, Sweetgrass First Nation, Red Pheasant Cree Nation, Cut Knife, Rabbit Lake, Richard, Maymont, Meota, Cochin, and even as far as Leoville, to name a few.
If people want to make a donation, Katerynych encourages them to bring anything they can. The food bank has a number of items it's most in need of - canned soup, chunky stews, peanut butter, jam, honey, baby formulas or baby food. It also needs canned vegetables, canned fruits, oatmeal, canned beans, as well as personal hygiene products.
"Anyone who wants to donate, we would appreciate it," Katerynych said.
