We asked food banks in our network to speak to the challenges they’re facing, and this is what they shared.
In the Hunger Report 2024 we released data that shows alarming trends in the Ontario food bank network. Nearly 40% of food banks are being forced to reduce the amount of food they can provide during a visit to meet rising demand.
This is an alarming trend that speaks to precarity and fragility of the network. Food banks were not built to withstand this level of demand. These changes to service also show how heavily our governments have come to rely on food banks. Additionally, it’s a strong indicator of how severe the affordability crisis is in our province.
Frontline food banks are the experts on their communities. That’s why we asked members of our network to speak to what they are seeing firsthand and the challenges they are facing as they work to fill the gaps in our frayed social safety net. “We’re not here for emergencies anymore, we are a necessity,” June Muir, CEO of UHC – Hub of Opportunities in Windsor shared. “It’s people that are working, it’s seniors, it’s youth that are going to school.”
Ontario food banks: “We’re not here for emergencies anymore, we are a necessity.”
This was echoed by Christine Clarke Lafleur, Chief Executive Officer of Pork Cares Food Bank. Lafleur said: “We are seeing people that we used to see years ago, and we’re seeing people who were donors now have to come for support.“ Due to decades of underinvestment in housing, social assistance programs, and quality jobs, over a million people have needed to turn to Ontario food banks for support. The affordability crisis is only amplifying the financial adversity people are facing in the province even further.
“We are seeing people that we used to see years ago, and we’re seeing people who were donors now have to come for support.“
This creates a cascade of challenges for food banks. During periods of economic hardship, demand increases as more people access a food bank to get by. At the same time fewer people are able to support the food bank with donations. As a result, food banks are forced to serve more people with fewer resources than they had before.
Lafleur, highlighted this, describing Port Cares seeing “Need going exponentially up, and donations and support going down, because people can’t afford to support our services anymore.”
This increasing need is being seen across the province. “Food is coming in as fast as it’s going out,” said Heather Vanner, Executive Director of Community Resource Service in Brantford.
“Food is coming in as fast as it’s going out” at Ontario food banks.
To meet the exponential rise in demand, many food banks have had cut back on wraparound services. These are supports necessary to people moving out of poverty. Wraparound services include home deliveries for people with mobility challenges, housing and utility subsidies, and income tax clinics. But food banks have had to prioritize keeping their doors open for emergency food assistance.
Even though food banks are taking these steps, the demand they are seeing in their communities is rapidly outpacing the resources they have available. Many food banks have had no choice but to reduce the amount of food they provide each visit. They’ve needed to take this step to stretch what they have on their shelves further. Because of this, not only are children, seniors, and families facing even greater hardships as a result of the affordability crisis in the province, but the same level of support that they were once able to receive is no longer available.
This is difficult for families needing help. It’s also a challenge for food banks who are unable to meet the needs of those walking through their doors. As Muir said: “When you can’t offer someone a food choice, you’re devastated.”
“When you can’t offer someone a food choice, you’re devastated.”
Food bank use is often a marker of severe economic instability. A study out of McMaster University showed that nearly half of visitors would be at risk of homelessness without the support of a food bank. Typically, food bank visitors have already exhausted all other options. They’ve asked family and friends for help, delayed bill payments, or taken on debt before turning to a food bank as a last resort. With over 1 million people in Ontario facing this level of precarity, immediate action is needed.
Ontario food banks can’t do this work alone, and need your help to support their neighbours during this challenging time. To learn more, watch the full video and consider taking one of the three steps today:
- Donate to Feed Ontario to support the provincial food bank network. For every $1 donated, we can provide 2 meals to someone in need.
- Read the Hunger Report 2024 to learn about what policy changes will address the root causes of poverty. Then, speak to your MPP about making immediate change.
- Use the Find a Food Bank tool to learn more about the food bank in your community.