PREECEVILLE — Two food banks in eastern Saskatchewan say community support is helping them keep pace with rising demand as more families look for help.
Filling the Gap in Preeceville — which is changing its name to Assiniboine River Hope Mission — received a $1,000 donation through sales of the GX94 Christmas Goodies cookbook. That brings the station’s total contribution to $4,000 since 2022.
Chairperson Barb Biccum said the money is used to buy food for hampers and supplies that are not always donated.
“It goes towards filling a lot of hungry tummies,” she said. “And at Christmas time, we put a percentage towards gifts so that the young children will have something to open.”
Biccum said cash donations are especially valuable because volunteers can purchase items that rarely appear on the donation shelves. She said that includes essentials such as baby formula.
“People often don’t know what we need from week to week,” she said. “This way, we can fill our shelves with what we need.”
Filling the Gap serves a wide area stretching from Preeceville to Sturgis, Endeavour, Steenan, Okla, Rama and Buchanan. Biccum said there is no government funding, and the group relies entirely on residents, farmers, businesses and volunteers.
“We have been so blessed to receive such generous donations,” she said. “The only support we have is our communities.”
More families have been reaching out for Christmas hampers, with several first-time requests this season.
In Swan River, the Swan Valley Food Bank also received a $1,000 donation through the same cookbook campaign. GX94 has now contributed $8,000 there since 2013.
Treasurer Phyllis Hunt said the money helps prepare nearly 200 food hampers each month, up from about 120 only a few years ago.
“The need has increased substantially,” Hunt said. “We’re seeing people that have a couple of part-time jobs, but they just can’t make their money stretch far enough to buy food and pay rent.”
Cash donations help cover the purchase of fresh items and staples. Hunt said the food bank will be handing out carrots and other vegetables on Dec. 18 for its holiday hampers, which were pre-registered earlier in the fall.
“Fresh vegetables and fruit are important when we can provide them,” she said.
Local grocery stores have also played a role, donating bread, pastries and dairy, while other businesses have held fundraisers. Hunt said the Empty Bobbin quilt shop in Swan River has hosted cookbook sales for four years.
The food bank is open on Thursdays and accepts donations between 10 and 11 a.m. Cash donations or inquiries can also be made by phone at 734-8903.
Biccum said the continued help in both communities makes a difference.
“We distribute food and gifts at Christmas time, and emergency hampers throughout the year,” she said. “We just want to support the people who are struggling to make ends meet.”
