(submitted/BDFRC)

By Alyssa Rudolph

Inflation impacts

‘We’ve had to cut back’: Saskatchewan food banks strain under inflation pressure

Oct 22, 2025 | 1:28 PM

As inflation in the province continues to rise, local food banks are noticing an increased dependency by the community.

The latest statistics show Saskatchewan’s inflation rate rose to 2.6 per cent, up from 1.7 per cent in August. When looking at the annual inflation rate by major components in the province, food tops the list at 4.9 per cent, followed by shelter at 3.7 per cent.

“We have a Food for Kids programs and with inflation, we’ve noticed that the price of the food that we put in the Food for Kids has doubled,” said Erin Katerynych, executive director of the Battleford’s District Food and Resource Centre.

They usually distribute 130 bags of food for kids alone each week.

With rising prices at the grocery store, Katerynch said more people have been knocking on the food bank’s doors. Over the month of September, 1,914 people benefited from hampers compared to 1,528 the month prior; however, numbers usually increase in September as students head back to school.

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“We’ve had to cut back what we’ve been putting in the hampers to ensure that everybody is getting food hampers,” she said.

The local food bank has seen an increase in the number of retirees on fixed income needing help.

Previously, pensioners accounted for 7 or 8 per cent of their total clientele. Now that number has doubled up to 15 per cent.

Speaking last July, the executive director of Food Banks of Saskatchewan, Michael Kincade, said food banks across the province are experiencing an unprecedented year of demand, making it increasingly difficult to stock adequate food supplies.

“The relentless rise in inflation is taking a toll on hunger and food insecurity, affecting not just low-income families but also those with higher incomes,” Kincade said.

Anyone who needs help from the food bank just has to provide identification for everyone in the household along with proof of address. Additional information is only mandatory if more than three visits are needed.

Katerynych said shelves at the food bank are sparse, but they’ve been offsetting short supplies for hampers with fresh vegetables that have been donated from the community. The food bank is currently in need of non-perishable foods, formulas for babies and cleaning supplies. Cash donations can also be made.

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alyssa.rudolph@pattisonmedia.com