Saskatchewan is among the top three provinces that has seen a spike in residents relying on food banks to feed themselves and their families.

According to the 2016 Hunger Count report by Food Banks Canada, the most recent report available, states that 31,395 Saskatchewan residents were assisted by food banks. This is a 17.5% increase from the year previous in 2015.

Further reports show that the number of people frequenting food banks is not relative to the overall economy of the province either.

The GDP for Saskatchewan during the recession in 2008 was hovering at $51.83 million, fast forward to 2018 and we are sitting at $60.59 million, yet the number of residents that required assistance from the food bank spiked 79.9% in that same time frame.

Moreover, almost half of those seeking nourishment from food banks are children, 45.2% to be exact, the highest per cent reported among all provinces and territories.

When comparing national unemployment percentages with the number of people assisted by the food banks, taking into account all ages, the number of people assisted are five per cent higher than those unemployed.

These numbers serve as indicators that there are 250,000 to 350,000 Canadians that are working and who still rely on the services of food banks to feed themselves and their families.

Food Banks Canada said in the report that although the new Liberal government implemented policy changes in the spring of 2016 including the Canada Child Benefit and $574 million for renovations to social housing, ‘this year’s Hunger Count findings show that there is still much more to be done.’

The above statistics and reports lead into why food bank donations from those who are able to give are required all year-round to aid in the livelihood of thousands of residents within the province and nation-wide.

If you would like to make a donation locally, the Moose Jaw and District Food Bank is located at 305 Fairford Street West.