(Facebook/Melfort Food Bank)

By Angie Rolheiser

Food Bank Needs

Saskatchewan Food Banks feeling unprecedented demand

Apr 6, 2020 | 11:27 AM

Food banks all across Saskatchewan are feeling the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.

In a response to an escalating demand for food, the 32 food banks in the province have started a crisis response fund and are seeking $6 million in cash donations.

The donations will assist the most vulnerable as they experience layoffs in this time of uncertainty.

Sheri Fengstad is the coordinator for the Tisdale and Nipawin Food Banks, she said they are looking for donations of canned items at both locations.

“Also with children at home more, they are wanting more of the snack items like granola bars, fruit cups, things like that,” Fengstad said.

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The demand hasn’t been seen quite as much at the northeast food banks but Fengstad predicts that is on the way.

“Right now, families are only going out when necessary so we aren’t getting huge numbers just yet but people are going to have to start coming out soon enough to get the things that they need,” Fengstad said.

In Nipawin, 60 individuals and families utilize the food bank each month. Tisdale typically serves between 25 and 30 each month.

The Tisdale Food Bank is open to the public on Monday’s from 1-4 p.m., while Nipawin is open on Tuesday from 10-11:30 a.m., and Thursday from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m.

Online donations are being encouraged at food banks of Saskatchewan website.

Fengstad said the Nipawin Salvation Army Thrift store is closed but community services is still available and the free income tax preparation is still being offered as well.

“We thought that was important to keep up because if you don’t do your income tax then come July, you won’t get your GST rebate or Child Tax benefit and other entitled benefits,” Fengstad said.

The Nipawin Salvation Army and Food Banks are partnering with Partners and Poverty to research needs in the communities and make a plan on how to address that. Specifically, with concern about children who are no longer able to utilize breakfast and lunch programs at school.

The Melfort and District Food Bank will be open this Thursday from 1-4 p.m., and then again on Thursday, May 21. Donations can be dropped off at the building on Broadway Ave. on Wednesday’s from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m.

The Hudson Bay Family and Support Centre Executive Director Sandy Bashnik told northeastNOW supplies are low and they are working on a couple of different campaigns to increase donations.

“We are encouraging monetary donations right now to limit transmission,” Bashnik said in an email.

The Lanigan Food Bank listed pasta, pasta sauce, cereal, canned meat, and kraft dinner as items that are running low.

In Wynyard, Food Bank chairperson Stephanie Cuddington said they have not noticed a huge increase in demand.

“Our turn may be coming, and as always we appreciate the public’s monetary support,” Cuddington said.

Food items can be donated in the drop box at the local Coop and in partnership with the Wynyard and Area Primary Health Team, fresh items can be purchased at the Coop which are then delivered to the food bank.

In an average month, Food Banks across the province support approximately 40,000 residents.

“Economic pressures will lead to a surge in demand on our food bank unlike anything our community has experienced before,” John Bailey, CEO of Regina Food Bank said in a release. “Hundreds of thousands of meals worth of food will be delivered to people, many of whom will never have considered that they would need to rely on a food bank.”

The campaign states that a $100 donation will feed two families for a week, $400 will put food on the plates of eight families.

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angie.rolheiser@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @Angie_Rolheiser