The majority of donations to the Lac La Ronge Food Bank are financial. (Derek Cornet/larongeNOW Staff)

By Derek Cornet

cost of living

Lac La Ronge Food Bank reaches hamper limit as grocery prices rise

Dec 15, 2021 | 5:00 PM

The rising cost of food will continue in 2022 and will impact residents of the tri-communities.

Canada’s 2022 Food Price Report is forecasting overall food price increases next year to be up to seven per cent, the highest predicted increase since the inception of the report 12 years ago. The most significant increases are expected in dairy, baked goods and fresh vegetables.

Lac La Ronge Food Bank chairperson Cheryl Norgaard explained those kind of price increases will affect how far the organization will be able to stretch financial donations to purchase food. She’s already noticed wholesale costs going up, noting Giant Tiger, Lake Country Co-op and Robertson Trading do their best to offer the lowest price.

“I feel hamburger today is the cost of what a steak used to be,” said Norgaard. “The costs have definitely gone up and I often think of people who are on a really strict budget. They must have to make some very difficult decisions on what they are putting in their grocery cart.”

Due to COVID, the Lac La Ronge Food Bank is no longer serving clients in person. Instead those who want a hamper must call in or fill out the online form or text a volunteer. In the last three weeks, the non-profit has distributed 40 to 45 hampers per week, which is the current limit.

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“I think if we didn’t have those limits, we would see higher numbers,” Norgaard said.

Norgaard wanted resident to know how important their continued support is and is encourage them to donate to the Nutrien Feeding Holiday Cheer campaign for Food Banks of Saskatchewan. Donations received during the campaign will be distributed to 36 food banks across the province and donors have the ability to designate their donation directly to one of the registered food banks.

The Feeding Holiday Cheer campaign aims to raise $1M to address food insecurity during the holidays and into 2022. Nutrien has provided a lead donation of $250,000 towards the campaign.

“I always want to thank the community,” Norgaard said. “We get such great support from this community whether is it volunteers or financially or food being donated. This time of year we get a lot of calls asking if someone can drop food off or how they can help.”

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derek.cornet@pattisonmedia.com

Twitter: @saskjourno