September is Milk Month at the Saskatoon Food Bank & Learning Centre (SFBLC). All month long the SFBLC raises awareness and funds in support of its Milk for Children Program.
For the past five years Canpotex has stepped up to support this critical program by matching all public donations in the month of September up to $50,000. In the last year alone, the food bank provided 56,428 litres of fresh milk for children and pregnant and nursing women.
With the public’s support and Canpotex’s match, the SFBLC raised a total of $111,884.37 this year. This amount will help us provide 77,697 litres of milk to the community.
Laurie O’Connor, Executive Director of the SFBLC, says, “Canpotex’s support during Milk Month means that the community has a strong opportunity to rally together and raise funds that go directly back into the program. The Milk for Children Program gives families the support they need in times of crisis so they can focus on other issues. Perhaps the most significant impact this program has on the recipients is the message it sends to families; that they matter, and that their community is here to support them during tough times.” O’Connor adds, “We are grateful to Canpotex for being a partner we can count on. Their partnership gives us confidence that children in the community will receive the nutrition they need during the early stages of childhood development and beyond.”
Canpotex CEO Gordon McKenzie says they are committed to food security in Saskatoon:
“Canpotex delivers Saskatchewan potash around the world, helping farmers produce more food for the world’s growing population,” says Gord McKenzie, President and CEO, Canpotex. “We are also committed to addressing food security in our communities. By supporting the Milk for Children Program, Canpotex is doing its part to ensure children and pregnant and nursing women receive adequate nutrition during the critical periods of childhood development.”
The Milk for Children Program at the Saskatoon Food Bank & Learning Centre ensures that children have access to fresh milk as part of their diet. For many children in our city, access to nutrient-rich milk is as simple as a visit to the family fridge. But for children growing up in low-income households struggling to make ends meet, waking up to a bowl of cereal or enjoying a warm glass of milk before bed is far from their everyday reality.