Saskatchewan food banks feeling the pinch from inflation

Inflation is making it harder for households to make ends meet and Saskatchewan food banks are seeing the fallout.

Canada’s inflation topped five per cent last month for the first time in 30 years. The inflation rate in Saskatchewan was 4.2 per cent in January.

Laurie O’Connor, the executive director of the Saskatoon Food Bank and Learning Centre, believes the higher cost of living is creating a new group of food bank users.

“All walks of life are using the food bank,” said O’Connor. “What we’re keeping our eye on are new users. Last month, we saw over 500 individual new users and that was a big jump from the previous month.”

It’s a similar story at the Regina Food Bank, which says the number of users is up 15 to 20 per cent year over year. Rising food costs are part of the problem.

CEO John Bailey said he has spoken with people who never thought they would ever need a food bank.

“A lot of people are sort of surprised to be in a position to need our support, but the situation is such that they just need it,” said Bailey. “They’re often folks who are not planning to be food bank users in the long term.”

Not only are food banks seeing greater demand, but their own budgets are being stretched to keep the shelves full due to rising costs.

With food banks reliant on corporate and private donations, both organizations say they’re concerned about people’s ability to maintain their support in the future.

“We’re seeing less food being donated,” Bailey said. “No food bank wants to get bigger. That said, we will make sure we are always there to answer the call.”

O’Connor is actively strategizing about what can be done to counter the effects of inflation.

Leveraging programs to address the root causes of poverty and continue to advocate for better social policies are options on the table.

“We have very low minimum wage and income assistance rates which are definitely impacting people’s ability to put food on the table for their families,” she said. “Folks don’t have adequate income to meet their most basic needs. It’s very concerning.”