Major gift kicks off Saskatoon Food Bank’s campaign to fund new location

The Saskatoon Food Bank & Learning Centre’s campaign to fund its move to a new location is off to a great start, thanks to a $2.5-million gift from Nutrien Ltd.

The food bank has purchased a new property on Avenue P South, which will house all of the food bank’s resources under a single roof.

Laurie O’Connor, the food bank’s executive director, said the move to a more suitable location is long overdue.

“Our main building is bursting at the seams and the logistics of operating the off-site clothing depot, warehouse, and garden patch drains resources,” O’Connor said in a statement.

“Generous donors, dedicated volunteers and staff have enabled SFBLC to keep up with increased demand for services, but we can no longer delay the need to find a new and functional home.”

The food bank has operated out of its current building since 1990. Before that, the operation was run out of the basement of St. Thomas Wesley United Church.

Planning and design for the new building is currently underway, with a budget of $12 million. A new capital campaign will be launched to help cover the remainder of the costs.

Nutrien’s name will be included in the title of the new facility for 10 years, the food bank noted in a statement, and the company will also serve as the campaign’s sponsor.

“With this extraordinary gift from Nutrien, we can be confident that the campaign is off to a wonderful start, and we extend our deepest gratitude,” O’Connor said.

In the last fiscal year alone, the Saskatoon Food Bank & Learning Centre has provided nearly two million pounds of food to the needy through emergency hampers.