This morning the Saskatchewan Indian Gaming Authority handed a $25,000 cheque to the Prince Albert Food Bank. The cheque is part of SIGA’s Community Investment Food Security Strategy, where they plan on making $225,000 in donations across the province.
Over the last year the Prince Albert Food Bank handed out 11,416 food hampers, including summer meal programing, adding up to 112,279 meals served to Prince Albert and area.
Executive Director of the Prince Albert Food bank, Kim Scruby said that when he started working at the food bank, they handed out an average of 700 food hampers per month and now they are giving out around 1300 per month.
“This is amazing for us, and the timing couldn’t be better. We’re seeing our volumes go way up in the community, we’re facing the same pressures with inflation as everyone else is, so this is incredible,” said Scruby. “This kind of community support is the only thing that keeps our doors open,”
SIGA’s Northern Lights Casino has been a part of the Prince Albert community for 27 years now and General Manager at Northern Lights, Angela Isbister said they’ve seen the increased need in the city for food hampers and food programs.
“I think the important message today is the work that the food bank does for Prince Albert and area so, we’re so glad to be able to be here and we appreciate the good work that Angela and the team at Northern Lights do and everything they do to give back, it’s a big part of what we do,” said SIGA President and CEO Zane Hansen.
Over the course of a year the Prince Albert Food Bank serves enough food to feed the entire city of Prince Albert for three days in a row and Scruby said this is the biggest donation he’s seen the food bank receive to date. The record-breaking donation came at a perfect time as the Food Bank is in need of a new roof, the donation will allow the Food Bank to make repairs as well as continue to serve the community.
(Photo by Jenna Smith.)