No one needs a food bank

No one needs a food bank,

until they do.

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About

Faces of Hunger

3 Ways to help

What is a modern food bank

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Sometimes the unexpected happens

From a sudden job loss to rising costs, a natural disaster to a personal tragedy, one change in circumstances can make the difference between a full fridge and an empty table.

Nearly 600,000 people visited a food bank in Ontario last year. 1 in 3 was a child.

Feed Ontario and our network of 1,200 food banks help ensure everyone in our province has access to nutritious food and wrap around support.

But our ultimate goal is to ensure that one day, no one needs a food bank. Period.

3 Ways to help

Hunger has many faces

WORKERS

Workers

The number of food bank visitors with employment grew by 47% since 2018.

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CHILDREN

Children

1 in 3 food bank visitors in Ontario is a child under the age of 18. Children and youth are nearly twice as likely as the general population to access a food bank in our province.

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SENIORS

Seniors

Seniors are nearly twice as likely to need the assistance of a food bank on a long-term basis compared to adults under 65 years of age.

Read the story

PEOPLE WITH A DISABILITY

People with a disability

Disability related benefits are the primary source of income for 1 in 3 people who use a food bank in Ontario.

Read the story

Learn 3 ways you can help Feed Ontario

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DONATE

Every $1 you give can help provide the equivalent of 2 meals!

Donate

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ENGAGE

Support your nearest food bank by giving food, funds, or your time.

Find a local food bank

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ADVOCATE

Join our MPP email campaign calling for a true solution to hunger and poverty.

Email your MPP

Donate

More people than ever are turning to Ontario’s food banks to help put food on the table – and we need your help to keep up. Food banks are not government funded and rely on the generosity of individuals and businesses to help ensure families have access to the food they need. Learn how Feed Ontario can stretch your donation. Every $1 you give provides 2 meals to someone facing hunger.

Your donation will help:

Facilitate equitable food distribution to every corner of the province
Provide locally raised and produced eggs, meat, and dairy through Feed Ontario’s Fresh Food Programs
Invest in capacity building, innovative programming, and resources to help food banks better serve their local communities
Enable the development of true solutions to hunger and poverty

Engage

From Kenora to Toronto, Windsor to Ottawa, and large and small towns in between, Feed Ontario’s network of 138 direct member food banks and another 1,100 affiliate hunger relief agencies ensures that people facing hunger in every corner of the province have access to good food. Contact your closest Feed Ontario member food bank to learn more about how you can help your community.

Ways to help your local food bank:

Donate money
Donate food (check the food bank’s website or call to find out their most needed items)
Volunteer your time – food banks have a range of skilled and non-skilled volunteer opportunities
Start a fundraiser to support your local food bank

Find your food bank

Advocate

Hunger is a symptom of poverty. Food banks exist across this province not because of a lack of food, but because many individuals do not have access to a sufficient income that allows them to afford all of their basic necessities. Long-term policy solutions are key to not only ending hunger, but alleviating poverty – but these require time and collaboration from community leaders and all levels of government. Low benefit rates for Ontario Works (OW) and the Ontario Disability Support Program (ODSP) combined with high clawbacks from other sources of income create barriers that trap recipients in a cycle of poverty. Use our simple tool to tell your MPP to stop the clawbacks for social assistance recipients on earned income and benefits like EI, CPP, WSIB, and the upcoming Canada Disability Benefit.

Explore the Hard Truths of Hunger and learn what can be done to eliminate the need for food banks.

Why this matters:

1 in 3 food bank users in Ontario cite disability related benefits as their primary source of income
OW recipients that are working can only keep their first $200 earned. Every dollar earned above that is clawed back by 50 cents.
2 out of 3 survey respondents have less than $100 left per month after paying for housing and utilities

E-mail your MPP

"The main thing [my local food bank] does is take away a lot of the stress in day-to-day living. It really helps to make sure that people aren’t as stressed out. I’ve seen people come in who were almost in tears, and they walk out, smiling, thankful with bags full of food. It really makes a difference to everybody’s life."

Visitor, The Mississauga Food Bank

What is a modern food bank?

Over the last 40 years, food banks have evolved from traditional food cupboards into multi-service agencies for community building and change.

Do food banks just hand out cans?

No! While canned goods can provide a great source of nutrients, particularly for people who may not always have access to a full kitchen, they are just one of the many options available at a food bank.

Food banks focus on providing the healthy food needed for a balanced diet – this includes everything from pantry staples like rice, pasta, pasta sauce, and cereal, through to fresh eggs, milk, meat, and fruit and vegies.

Last year, 63% of the food distributed by Feed Ontario was fresh or frozen and our Fresh Food Programs, run in partnership with Ontario farmers, provided 3.5 million pounds of Ontario-raised and processed protein and dairy.

Additionally, 75% of Feed Ontario food banks provide diet and culturally specific foods such as gluten free, vegan, halal, and kosher.

Learn more about Feed Ontario’s Food Programs.

Do food banks just provide food?

Hunger is a symptom of poverty and interrelated with many other, complex issues. That’s why many food banks are multi-service agencies or partner with other community organizations to provide visitors additional supports and services.

In fact, 91% of food banks in the Feed Ontario network provide services and programming beyond emergency food support. Some examples include:

64% of food banks provide holiday hampers
51% of food banks offer specialty programs for children and youth
48% of food banks provide community service information and referrals
30% of food banks provide clothing support or run a thrift store
24% of food banks offer income tax preparation support to help families maximise their tax return

Do food banks solve hunger?

Food banks recognize that we are not a solution to food insecurity, but work tirelessly to provide nutritious food support and programming that helps alleviate hunger today, as well as advocate on behalf of those we serve at the municipal, provincial, and federal level for evidence-based solutions to poverty.

Food insecurity and poverty are complex issues that can only be solved by good public policy and adequate support programs that ensure all Ontarians have the income they need to afford their basic necessities each month.

Read our recommendations for change.

What is Feed Ontario’s network of food banks?

Feed Ontario is a network of 141 direct member food banks and over 1,100 affiliate hunger-relief agencies across the province. This includes food banks, food pantries, community food centres, breakfast clubs, meal programs, shelters, and senior centres. Together, our network provides an immediate, emergency response to people and families that have been unable to afford the food that they need during a given month.

All food banks in the Feed Ontario network abide by Food Banks Canada’s Ethical Food Banking Code and Feed Ontario’s operational and service standards.