Holiday campaign raises $2.2 million for Sask. food banks

Food banks across Saskatchewan are celebrating after raising $2.2 million in their annual holiday fundraising campaign.

The funds were donated by individuals and companies across the province, with fertilizer giant Nutrien adding $500,000 through matched community donations.

Nutrien Executive Vice President and CEO of Potash, Susan Jones, handed over the cheque Thursday afternoon at the Saskatoon Food Bank & Learning Centre.

Lorie O’Connor, executive director of Food Banks of Saskatchewan, said the additional funding will help food banks expand their programs, purchase and grow nutritious food, build community gardens, help provide refrigeration in small communities and purchase new trucks.

“Nutrien is such an amazing partner,” O’Connor said.

The food banks know where the funds are most needed, O’Connor said, so the donations will be used to support and expand their current programs rather than funding one specific purchase or project.

Jones said it’s very important for the company to give back.

“We like to say we feed the world from the ground up, but we also really support the communities we operate in,” Jones said. “We’re very proud to have been part of this for the past nine years.”

Nutrien wasn’t just helping out financially – Jones said a large group of volunteers from the fertilizer giant planned to spend the afternoon volunteering at the Saskatoon Food Bank packing hampers and helping sort food.