'It is the greatest system challenge that we've ever faced': Food bank operators fear donor capacity may be near its peak
Feed Ontario's 2022 ‘Hunger Report’ looks at food bank use figures between April 2021 and March 2022.
It finds that over that period more than half a million adults and children accessed an Ontario food bank — an increase of 15 per cent over the last three years.
"People are having to make incredibly difficult decisions,” said Feed Ontario Executive Director Carolyn Stewart. “Do I keep a roof over my head or do I buy food, do pay for transportation to work or do I buy my children winter clothing?"
When asked why they needed to use a food bank, nearly 46 per cent said the cost of food, and 13 per cent cited the cost of housing. Meanwhile, roughly 10 per cent said their wages were too low, or they weren't getting enough hours at work.
"It is the greatest system challenge that we've ever faced,” according to London Food Bank Co-Executive Director Glen Pearson.
Pearson said there are signs that people's capacity to donate may be nearing a peak, and that those who once donated are now having to visit a food bank.
"The donor base, you can't keep going to them and say 'Give more, give more, give more' when they too are going through inflation and the price of food and all that stuff,” he said.
As challenging as the current circumstances are, Pearson said we can expect some announcements in the near future on made-in-London solutions involving corporations and the agriculture community that could make a difference.
Pearson believes the approaches being discussed will reduce the reliance on donors and will provide healthy locally grown food. He also believes the concepts could be utilized in locations across the province.
Still, Stewart said governments at all levels must do their part to address issues like housing costs and livable social supports.
"The way to address food insecurity here in this province isn't through food-banking but rather through good public policy changes so that we make food banks unnecessary,” he said.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Breast cancer screening should start at age 40, Canadian Cancer Society says
The Canadian Cancer Society says all provinces and territories should lower the starting age for breast cancer screening to 40.
DEVELOPING Live updates as Stormy Daniels testifies at Trump hush money trial
Adult film star Stormy Daniels is on the stand a second time Thursday as former U.S. president Donald Trump’s hush money case continues in Manhattan. Follow live updates here.
Ontario family receives massive hospital bill as part of LTC law, refuses to pay
A southwestern Ontario woman has received an $8,400 bill from a hospital in Windsor, Ont., after she refused to put her mother in a nursing home she hated -- and she says she has no intention of paying it.
Canadian-Israeli man shot dead in Egypt; claim links killing to Gaza
A Canadian man 'of Jewish Israeli descent' has been shot dead in the Egyptian city of Alexandria in a suspected criminal case, a security source said, while a previously unknown militant group said it carried out the attack in reaction to the war in Gaza.
Here are the ultraprocessed foods you most need to avoid, according to a 30-year study
Studies have shown that ultraprocessed foods can have a detrimental impact on health. But 30 years of research show they don’t all have the same impact.
Ontario man frustrated after $3,500 paving job leaves driveway in shambles
An Ontario man considering having his driveway paved received a quote from a company for $7,000, but then, another paver in the neighbourhood knocked on his door and offered half that rate.
Why these immigrants to Canada say they're thinking about leaving, or have already moved on
For some immigrants, their dreams of permanently settling in Canada have taken an unexpected twist.
Bank of Canada says financial system is stable, but risks remain
The Bank of Canada says the Canadian financial system is stable, but risks remain due to debt servicing costs among households and businesses and stretched valuations of financial assets.
BREAKING Sheldon Keefe out as head coach of Toronto Maple Leafs
The Toronto Maple Leafs have fired head coach Sheldon Keefe. The team made the announcement Thursday after the Original Six franchise lost to the Boston Bruins in seven games in the first round of the Stanley Cup playoffs.