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By meadowlakeNOW staff

Food to Learn

Food to Learn raises over $72K for Sask food banks

Sep 5, 2024 | 6:01 PM

This year’s Food to Learn campaign raised over $72,000 for Saskatchewan food banks.

In a press release from the Saskatchewan Teachers’ Federation, over the summer months, the original goal had been $44,000 – a figure which “represents the approximately 44,000 people who access food banks every month” province wide.

The campaign, a partnership between the STF and Food Banks of Saskatchewan, was created as 40 per cent of foodbank clients are under the age of 18 and often rely on school meal programs.

“The generosity of our communities is a constant source of inspiration,” Saskatchewan Teachers’ Federation President Samantha Becotte, said in the release.

“It is so important that students have access to healthy meals that support their growth and help them focus on learning.”

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To help supplement the campaign, the STF also raised over 1,000 lbs., of food through internal donations along with volunteering time at the Saskatoon Food Bank.

According to Delton Sylvain, executive director of Meadow Lake Outreach Ministries in Meadow Lake, these initiatives go a long way to helping organizations like his succeed.

“It is very necessary especially when we can see that…the inflation is too high in Saskatchewan,” he said, noting the homeless population is going up.

“I think any initiative that has this nature helps a lot.”

Over the month of August, 51 per cent of the clients the Battlefords District Food and Resource Centre served were children.

“In the summer, donations do drop,” said Erin Katerynych, executive director with the food bank.

“Thankfully, we are in harvest and are receiving donations of fabulous produce from local gardeners.”

She explained that last month alone, over 2,000 people were supported and it was due to the community.

“It is with the support from caring people and organizations such as the STF that allow us to continue helping those in need.”

Speaking on the increase of need in the release, Executive Director of Food Banks of Saskatchewan Michael Kincade said the campaign “gives the programs a very welcome boost.”

Meanwhile, Sylvain said food security is a basic human right.

“It is not about the foodbanks, it’s about the whole community and how this can affect the whole community,” he said.

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cjnbnews@pattisonmedia.com