Saskatoon Food Bank annual Christmas hamper day helps single people in need
- Fraser Needham | December 21, 2015
The Saskatoon Food Bank is trying to make the holiday season a little easier on those less fortunate with their annual hamper day.
This year’s event took place on Saturday, December 12 and there was a lineup outside the food bank’s doors on Avenue C South before the hamper day even officially began at 9 a.m.
About 2,000 food baskets were given out at the event, which specifically targets single people in need.
“Long before I came to the food bank, the need (for single people) was seen by the previous management that there were lots of programs in place for families,” Saskatoon Food Bank Executive Director Laurie O’Connor says. “Of course there’s Denny Carr Secret Santa, the Salvation Army does great work as well, but single people don’t really receive a special meal. So, that’s what we set out to do and that’s what we’re doing this year.”
O’Connor adds unfortunately the numbers of local people needing to use the food bank continues to rise.
“It’s very concerning to us,” she says. “In 2014, we jumped from 12,000 to 15,000 (people seen per month). So, we had been at 12,000 for a number of years, maybe five or more years, and then this year we’ve seen another jump. Maybe we are seeing close to 18,000 people per month.”
The food bank executive director says people in low wage jobs and on fixed incomes continue to struggle with the high cost of transportation, accommodation and childcare and this has now been further aggravated by the recent downturn in the economy.
The food baskets contain such items as chicken or ham, fresh bread, a litre of milk, soup, vegetables, fresh apples and oranges.
Donations to this year’s hamper program were made by Les and Irene Dube, Maple Leaf, Chicken Farmers of Saskatchewan, Sofina, the J. Calyniuk family, Sobey’s and Saputo.
Coming Saskatoon Food Bank events before Christmas include the 18 Wheels of Christmas and a special announcement by Loraas Disposal.