Even though this year’s Hunger Action Month has come to a close, there are still steps everyone can take to fight hunger in Ontario.
Food bank use in the province has nearly doubled in the past five years, and now over 1 million people need to turn to food banks for help. Hunger is affecting children, seniors, people, and families, and can be found in all our communities.
When we talk about poverty, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed. Looking at complex challenges and systems that aren’t meeting today’s needs is challenging. It can feel like there’s nothing one person can do to make change.
But each of us can take small steps. Actions of every size make a difference, and by working together we can create a hunger-free Ontario.
That’s why we’ve compiled a list of steps anyone can take to make change in their community.
1. Spend a month in someone else’s shoes
The best place to start making a difference is by understanding what needing to turn to a food bank is like, and what factors cause hunger in Ontario.
Every month, when faced with a tight budget and the rising cost of living, food bank visitors need to make difficult decisions to get by. Choices like whether to pay rent or put food on the table, or to pay the heat bill or to buy a new winter coat for their child are just a few examples of the many choices food bank visitors are faced with.
Seeing what it might be like to visit a food bank can be eye-opening, which is why we created Fork in The Road, an experience that allows you to step into someone else’s shoes. Users must navigate which bills they can afford to pay, if it’s possible to buy healthy groceries, and what, if any, little pleasures may be in the budget.
Try Fork in The Road to see if you can make it through the month.
2. Learn about the issues
Every year, we release research and reports, like the Hunger Report, which is pictured here being delivered to Queen’s Park to share with elected representatives.
As you start to understand more about what the realities of hunger and poverty are like, you can find out more about the wider issues that lead to food bank use in the first place. Learning more about the main factors that drive food bank use in Ontario can help pave the way for real solutions.
Every year we release research and reports, like the Hunger Report, that outline annual trends in food bank use and explore what causes someone to need the help of a food bank. Our reports also offer recommendations that all levels of government can put into action to create more quality jobs, more affordable housing, and a stronger social safety net so everyone in our communities can thrive.
3. Explore how hunger impacts your community
Even though hunger may not be visible everywhere, we know that in every community across the province there are people who need support from food banks to get by. Seeing the effect of hunger in your region can often be the first step to raising awareness and taking action locally.
Our Hunger in My Riding tool allows you to take a closer look at hunger in your area. Simply enter a few details about where you live, and you’ll be able to see how many people in your community have visited a food bank. The tool also allows you to generate a custom report that can be emailed to your local representatives to take your impact to the next level.
4. Lend your voice to make a difference
Our CEO Carolyn Stewart advocating for change.
A strong, vibrant, hunger-free Ontario is possible, and this depends on strong communities – communities where everyone has what they need to live, contribute, and succeed.
This means making sure people have the income they need to meet today’s cost of living – and that the cost of living itself is affordable for everyone.
We created a petition to tell the Province it’s time to take bold action on poverty. Together, we can create a future where no one in Ontario has to worry about where their next meal is coming from. By signing our petition you can lend your voice to call for change.
5. Volunteer at your local food bank
Feed Ontario staff members participating in a volunteer food sort.
Did you know nearly 80% of our network have 5 or fewer staff? That means volunteers are the engine powering the provincial food bank network. By giving your time to your local food bank, you’re lending a helping hand to your neighbours in need and making sure food banks can continue to be there for your community.
You can use our Find a Food Bank tool to locate the Feed Ontario network member closest to you.
6. Stay connected
Staying up to date with the work being done to address hunger and poverty in the province is another important step everyone can take to begin making a difference.
You can sign up for our newsletter to receive stories of impact, insight, and ways to take action to build a hunger-free Ontario together, or follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Threads, or X and share our content to help spread the word and raise awareness about hunger in Ontario.