Rising inflation leads Saskatchewan residents to frequent Regina, Saskatoon food banks | 24CA News
While individuals in every single place face hovering grocery payments, extra prairie residents than ever are turning to meals banks in Regina and Saskatoon.
Both cities’ meals banks are seeing a rise in demand after months of rising prices of residing.
“(We saw) before the beginning of March that it was sort of continuing along that very slow increase trend,” stated Laurie O’Connor, Saskatoon Food Bank government director. “And in speaking to my colleagues across the country, they were seeing a much more rapid increase.”
The Saskatoon Food Bank’s numbers have been up properly over 35 per cent from March 2022, which is near 23,000 shoppers who utilized the meals financial institution final month.
“That would be a large jump for us and also would be the most number of people we’ve seen since I started working here 15 years ago,” she stated. “For a number of years after about 2017, we saw things getting a bit better for folks, but that certainly isn’t the case now.”
O-Connor says contributing components are the rising prices of groceries, individuals having to pay again Canada Emergency Response Benefit (CERB) overpayments, inflationary pressures and provide chain points.
“I’m not certain that that will ease at all as we hear folk’s stories of, you know, really struggling to make ends meet. And we see news stories where the cost of food is continuing to go up.”
The Regina Food Bank vice-president stated the most important development they noticed is way extra working individuals.
“Eighteen per cent of our clients now are people that are working full time,” stated David Froh. “Even when you’re working hard to get ahead, if your wage doesn’t meet the living wage, sadly, you’re probably coming into a food bank.”
Froh added The Regina Food Bank is serving double the quantity of recent Canadians and retirees on a set revenue; 43 per cent of their shoppers are youngsters.
“This spring when we’re talking about feeding 12- to 13-thousand people a month, I hope people in our community feel good that they fund the food bank,” he stated. “I also think it’s a loud call to action that we have to do something about the root causes as to why so many children, so many retirees and new Canadians are lining up outside our door every single day.”
In an electronic mail assertion, the Saskatchewan authorities said they’re dedicated to making sure affordability for residents within the province.
“With every annual budget by investing over $2 billion in direct payments or forgone revenue to support seniors, families, students, and individuals,” the assertion learn.
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