Demand high at Saskatchewan food banks ahead of Christmas

Food banks in Saskatchewan’s two largest cities are seeing a lot more demand than normal as Christmas inches closer.

“We’re seeing it across the province and across Canada,” John Bailey, CEO of the Regina Food Bank, said on The Evan Bray Show on Tuesday.

“What we’re seeing is a 40 per cent increase in the number of visits we’re getting, and a 30 per cent increase in the number of people. What that means is more people coming more often.”

Laurie O’Connor, executive director of the Saskatoon Food Bank & Learning Centre, is seeing that same trend. While she didn’t have numbers for December, she said she’s noticed clients lining up outside the food bank’s doors this month.

“I know in November we had the highest usage numbers ever,” O’Connor explained. “We know times are really tough for folks.”

O’Connor said the food bank served more than 24,000 people in Saskatoon last month.

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According to Bailey, the food bank in Regina is seeing a lot of people using the service for the first time.

“We’re seeing tons of new folks, and some of the new folks coming through our doors as of late are folks who never saw themselves needing to use the food bank,” he told Bray.

“There’s such significant economic pressures on individuals and households – and we want to be there to help them – but it’s creating a brand-new set of folks coming through our doors every day.”

While donations to some charities like The Salvation Army are down significantly this year, O’Connor said that hasn’t been the case at the food bank in Saskatoon, where donations are keeping pace with previous years.

“I have read the report that came out recently that said donations are down across the country, but fortunately for us at the food bank we aren’t seeing that,” she said.

“I think the work that we do is tangible and really valued in the community, so we do feel very supported.”

Bailey also said the Regina Food Bank is also seeing donations on par with previous years.

But while donations aren’t down, usage remains high, and both O’Connor and Bailey said they wouldn’t turn away any food or cash donations.

The full interview with Bailey can be heard below.