The Saskatoon Food Bank and Learning Centre is encouraging the public to support childhood nutrition with a donation to its February ‘First Bites’ campaign.

Director of Operations & Engagement Deborah Hamp says all monetary donations up to $50,000 will be matched by the campaign’s sponsor Canpotex. The goal is to raise $100,000 by the end of the month, with all funds raised going towards the purchase of baby and toddler foods.

“Vegetable and fruit purees, shelf-stable finger foods, puffs, baby crackers, pablum, rice cereals, that type of thing,” she explains.

Those hoping to donate can either drop off baby food at the Food Bank location on Avenue C, make a monetary donation online, or host a food drive with your team, co-workers, or religious community.

If you make a donation online, Hamp says that allows the Food Bank to purchase in bulk and make that money stretch a lot further to support the needs of infants and toddlers.

Hamp says the need is increasing now more than ever. For example, the Food bank serves up to 600 households per day, and 40 per cent of the people receiving food are children.

“Saskatchewan is tied for the second-lowest minimum wage in all of Canada. How that impacts children is that one in five children in Saskatchewan experience poverty.”

On average, about 24,000 people visit the food bank per month, ranging from university students, seniors, children, working families, and newcomers.