Saskatoon May-long city-wide food drive puts focus on caring for neighbours

The message behind this year’s city-wide food drive is one of care: “Don’t let your neighbours fall through the cracks.”

The annual food drive, hosted by the Saskatoon Food Bank and Learning Centre, aims to stock shelves with non-perishable essentials for local homes grappling with food insecurity.

Each month, the food bank supports an average of 23,000 people. Of those, 40 per cent are children, “highlighting the continued need for community action across Saskatoon,” according to a release from the organization.

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Executive director of the food bank, Laurie O’Connor, said the food drive is a way for people to “turn that community spirit into action,” to take care of their neighbours.

“One of Saskatoon’s greatest strengths is the way people show up for one another,” O’Connor said.

Members of the community can get involved with the drive throughout the month of May by hosting their own food drive at workplaces, schools, churches or community organizations. Donations of non-perishable food items and financial donations are also welcomed, both online and in person.

According to the food bank, baby food and formula, canned fruits and vegetables, hearty soups and stews, whole-grain pasta and cereals, canned protein and peanut butter are among the items most needed at this time.