Food Bank Asks For Help To Fight Hunger Pandemic
Submitted By Moose Jaw And District Food Bank
The Hunger Pandemic
With prices increasing for almost everything, families are facing a new pandemic hunger.
In 2021, the basic cost of living per average low-income household in Saskatchewan was $37,164.00. This figure only includes rent, utilities, grocery, vehicle insurance and fuel, and does not include internet, phone, clothing, vehicle maintenance, medical, home insurance or emergency costs. The average low-income family makes under $33,800 annually, putting them in a deficit of $3,364.00 each year.
A single mother working at the local grocery store, the man loading your truck at the lumber yard whose wife doesn’t have the option to work because paying daycare for two kids costs more than she could make waiting tables, or the senior citizens working the drive through window because their pensions aren’t enough to survive on, these are a few examples of low-income families. This coming year is going to be even harder for them.
According to the Food Prices Report for 2022, the average family of four will have an annual food expenditure of $14,767 for grocery, marking an increase of close to $1000.00 from 2021. Fuel costs jumped 50.8 percent, meaning a household of four will pay an additional $1071.00 more than the previous year. The cost of clothing, and other retail items has also increased.
As prices sore, the demand on Food Banks is increasing. The Moose Jaw & District Food Bank is seeing that impact on its food supplies and a 38% increase in clients served from the previous year.
“This year (2022) we’re serving approximately 1000 people each month, almost half are children. In 2021 we were serving approximately 725 people each month. We believe the increased demand is directly connected to the rising cost of food and gas. People who were barely getting by are now really struggling,”
“When schools close for summer, we expect the numbers of those we serve to increase even more as there won’t be access to breakfast or lunch programs in school and for some there will be the added cost of a monthly day care bill”.
“Our food supply is running low faster than past years. Our pantry will be bare before our annual Better Together Food Drive which happens every October 31st “.
This year the Moose Jaw Food Bank will need extra help from the community. During the month of July, we are going to run a capital campaign in an effort to raise $100,000.00 to sustain the rising demand for our services. We need your help to ensure our most vulnerable citizens are fed during these unprecedented times.
You can donate on our website www.mjfoodbank.org or mail a cheque to 270 Fairford St W Moose Jaw, SK. S6H 1V6