Canada and the World
Current Events with a Canadian Perspective
Last update
14 December 2011
Increasing Food Bank Use in Canada
A report from Food Banks Canada says the use of
facilities distributing free food has risen 28 percent
in the last year and is at its highest level since 1997
The Great Recession is over. At least, that’s the mantra being chanted by politicians and investment bankers looking to boost the financial industry. In food banks across Canada, the recovery from economic hard times looks quite a bit different.
Bill Burris
2011 Hunger Count Report
Every year since 1989, Food Banks Canada has issued a report on the level of usage experienced by member organizations.
And, as the organization says “Affiliate Member food banks, and their respective agencies serve approximately 85% of people accessing emergency food programs nationwide,” its annual report presents a comprehensive view of the situation.
The 2010 report, released in November said that “Over the last two years, food bank
use in Canada has risen by 28 percent – an unprecedented rate of growth. After four
consecutive years of decline, demand for food banks has skyrocketed since the 2008-
The 2011 report was no more optimistic, saying that food bank demand “is essentially
unchanged from 2010, and remains 26 percent above levels experienced before the 2008-
The report says that increased food bank demand was seen in every province in the country.
Almost One Million Canadians Need Food Assistance
According to Food Banks Canada, in March 2011, 851,014 people went to member outlets to emergency food supplies.
Of these, 38 percent are children and 11 percent reported some employment income.
People receiving government-
Food Bank Usage Varies by Region
The Montreal Gazette’s Irwin Block reports that in Montreal in “absolute terms…a record 140,697 people were helped by food banks and various food services in March, or 25,230 more than in March 2009.”
The statistics came from “Moisson Montréal/Montreal Harvest, the city’s central food-
The story of deprivation is similar in Manitoba. According to the Winnipeg Free Press, “The number of people forced to rely on food banks in Manitoba has jumped dramatically.
“David Northcott …president of the Manitoba Association of Food Banks, said today that there has been a 21 percent jump in food bank use across the province from March 2009 to March 2010.”
Stubborn Effects of the Recession
A Canadian Press report comments that, “people are going hungry partly because they lost their jobs during the recession, and now their unemployment benefits are running out.
“Or, they’ve been able to find new jobs, but often the jobs are in service industries and don’t pay enough to support them.”
CBC News quotes Katharine Schmidt, executive director of Food Banks Canada as saying
“This is a reality check. Food banks are seeing first-
Sources
“Hunger Count 2011.” Food Banks Canada, November 2011.
“Local Food Banks See 22 Percent Rise in Clientele.” Irwin Block, Montreal Gazette, November 16, 2010.
“More People Using Food Banks.” Winnipeg Free Press, November 16, 2010.
“Food-
“Food Banks: Do you Donate to them?” CBC News, November 16, 2010.
© Canada and the World, December 2011
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“Food banks have been helping more than 700,000 separate individuals each month for the better part of a decade, through good economic times and bad – a fact of life that the majority of Canadians find unacceptable.”
Food Banks Canada 2011
MOST
WANTED ITEMS
Food banks always need donations of the following items:
1. Canned Meat & Fish
2. Peanut Butter
3. Beans in Sauce
4. Rice
5. Cold Cereal
6. Canned Fruit
7. Macaroni & Cheese
8. Canned Stew & Chili
9. Canned Vegetables
10. Fruit & Veggie Juice