(File Photo/paNOW Staff)

By Jaryn Vecchio

2023 Numbers

P.A. Food Bank hands out record number of hampers in 2023

Jan 4, 2024 | 9:00 AM

2023 was a record-breaking year for the Prince Albert Food Bank.

The non-profit handed out nearly 14,000 hampers over 12 months. This comes out to over 1,100 hampers a month.

The previous record, set in 2022, saw the Food Bank hand out over 12,300 hampers, or roughly 1,000 every month.

Executive Director Kim Scruby told paNOW it feels like they’re helping someone new every day.

“The big increase started in COVID, and it’s just continued since then.”

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Before the pandemic, the Food Bank was handing out between 700 and 750 hampers a month. While that’s still a lot, it was much more manageable for the non-profit.

Scruby explained the main reason they’ve been able to keep up is due to all the donations they get.

“The amount of support we’ve gotten from the community has also increased,” he added.

Scruby highlighted a couple of examples including Pattison Media holding an online fundraiser that was able to raise over $30,000 and staff at the Victoria Hospital collecting around 1,500 lbs of food.

He also noted there are other organizations in town stepping up to help those in need.

“With the Prince Albert Grand Council handing out (holiday) hampers and the Salvation Army ramping up their daily feeding programs… it’s a real community effort happening.”

Meanwhile, Scruby believes 2024 will be another record-breaking year.

He said he dreams of a day where Food Banks don’t exist but until that happens, he’s confident they’ll be able to help everyone who needs it thanks to the continued support from the community.

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Jaryn.Vecchio@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @princealbertnow