In Saskatoon, 9 thousand 9 hundred and 43 individuals have received food baskets from the Food Bank at least once during the month this past March.

Of that number, 43 per cent were children.

The Saskatoon Food Bank and Learning Centre, together with the United Way of Saskatoon and the Deputy Medical Health Officer for the Saskatoon Health Region have released the annual Hunger Count.

In Saskatoon, 19 per cent of the individuals who rely on the Food Bank, are employed and 13 per cent have no permanent address.

The annual Hunger Count report says the key factor at the root of the need for food banks is low income and so the report outlines several actions for change, including increasing affordable housing, investing in supportive, quality social assistance programs and acting to address the decline in well-paying jobs. (sv oct 29-12)