The Food Banks Canada 2022 statistics report has arrived. This report provides a highly informative snapshot of food bank use in Canada and helps us also inform Quest’s ongoing mission.
It’s been a tough year for Canadians, and now more than ever, we need to take actionable steps to reduce those dealing with starvation.
Food Banks Canada is a national charitable organization dedicated to helping Canadians with food insecurity. They provide national leadership to “relieve hunger today and prevent hunger tomorrow” in collaboration with the food bank network in Canada.
The annual HungerCount is Food Banks Canada’s signature report, documenting food bank use in Canada. It is a cross-sectional census survey of food bank agencies, organizations and programs within and outside of the Food Banks Canada network.
Key points to consider:
The total number of visits to food banks within Canada – 1,462,795.
Total visits by children – 485,041
Visits within British Columbia – 163,231
Visits by children within British Columbia – 52,312
Canadian Food Bank Users:
33.1% are children, that’s 1 in 3
45.4% are single adult households
49% are on social assistance or disability-related supports
4,045,013 meals and snacks were served in March 2022, the highest March usage on record.
There is a correlation between starvation and the rising costs of the economy, and it’s putting people under more financial stress, leading to food inaccessibility.
Top three reasons people accessed a food bank in 2022:
Food costs
Low provincial social assistance rates
Housing costs
More Work to Do
As you can see, there’s plenty more work to be done to help with the nation’s relief of hunger, and 63% of food bankers saw increasing mental health support as one of the top policy priorities to reduce hunger in their communities.
Donate to Quest Food Exchange Today
Our mission at the Quest Outreach Society exists to disrupt the cycle of poverty through access to healthy and affordable food that is sourced sustainably. We aim to provide a grocery experience based on dignity, access and sustainability principles.
We believe in a grocery model supporting the community while reducing greenhouse gas emissions. We work actively to redirect health and good food that would otherwise end up in landfills and contribute to greenhouse gas emissions.
Please support our cause by donating today. Help ensure families and individuals in need can access the groceries they want at affordable prices.
