Saskatoon Food Bank asks for help amid high demand for infant formula

The Saskatoon Food Bank is running low on some of its most essential items and is asking the public for help.

The organization says that as the rising cost of living brings in more clients, its stocks are critically low. And this month, it is asking for more donations of infant formula.

"Infant formula is a pretty high-cost item, so for moms who aren't able to breastfeed, we like to have that available," said Laurie O'Connor, the executive director of the Saskatoon Food Bank. 

"We have definitely seen struggles over the course of a number of months keeping that item in stock."

With 40 per cent of the food bank's users being children or mothers with babies, O'Connor said they need support.

"No one wants to see anyone go hungry, much less children," said O'Connor. "We're planning ahead and making sure that we can keep a good stock of formula in the building."

On Monday, Food Banks Canada released its Hungercount 2024 report, which included data from across the country based on statistics collected during the month of March 2024. 

The number of people who visited food banks during March broke records for the country. More than two million people in Canada visited food banks during that time.

For its part, the Saskatoon Food Bank has seen a 40 per cent increase in users since 2019. 

O'Connor said along with the rising cost of groceries, an increase in rent prices is another reason why people are turning to their local food bank now more than ever.

Kim Scruby, executive director of the Prince Albert Food Bank, also pointed to multiple financial pressures.

"It isn't just one thing — it's grocery prices and increases in rent," Scruby said. "There's significant rent increases I've heard of around here."

Scruby said that Prince Albert's food bank is staying afloat, but that it has also seen a large increase in the number of people accessing the organization in recent years.

Scruby said he's seen an approximate 70 per cent increase in dual-income households visiting the food bank recently, utilizing the organization as a means to save money in the grocery store as the cost of living continues to rise.

"We're still managing to keep the hampers fairly full and meet the demand," he said. "Some weeks it's a little more challenging than others."

Scruby said certain products leave the shelves more quickly than others. The Prince Albert Food Bank is looking for baby products, non-perishable food items and hygiene supplies during this time.