For International Women’s Day, we celebrate the achievement and contributions of women worldwide and raise awareness about important issues affecting them, including food security.
According to the 2022 Food Bank User Statistics, 51.9% of individuals accessing Canadian food banks were women 18 and over. Over half of the people needing food support are women; that’s an alarming number.brings attention to the importance of cardiovascular health and how we can reduce our risk of developing cardiovascular diseases.
Women and Equity Issues
Women in Canada are more likely than men to experience poverty. Single mothers, Indigenous women, visible minority women, immigrant women, and senior women are at particular risk due to marginalization and discrimination. It’s also challenging as there are limited means to shop for healthier food options, especially as sticker prices continue to rise. Read more.
Addressing Food Security
Addressing food security can help address gender inequality in several ways:
Empowerment: When women have access to adequate and nutritious food, they can better care for their families and have more energy and resources to pursue other opportunities. This can increase their economic independence and decision-making power, leading to greater empowerment.
Education: When women and girls are not hungry and have access to nutritious food, they can concentrate and attend school, increasing their chances of obtaining an education and better job opportunities.
Improved health: Women with access to nutritious food are more likely to be healthy and have better birth outcomes, reducing the risk of maternal and child mortality risk
Reduced violence: When women are economically empowered and access resources like food, they are less vulnerable to gender-based violence and exploitation.
Improved community development: Addressing food security can have a positive impact on overall community development, as improved health, education, and economic outcomes can lead to reduced poverty and increased prosperity.
Addressing food security is a crucial step in promoting gender equality and empowering women, and it should be a priority in development efforts globally.
Help Close the Gender Gap
Help ensure families, individuals, and women in need can access the groceries they want at affordable prices. As redistribution leaders, we work to actively redirect healthy, good food that would otherwise end up in landfill and contribute to greenhouse gas emissions. Almost all of Quest’s food is donated by local food partners across British Columbia and delivered across our five Lower Mainland markets at a reduced cost to our client communities. Quest’s five grocery markets are located in Burnaby, Surrey, North Vancouver, East Vancouver, and the Downtown Eastside.
Let’s work together to close the gender gap and ensure food security for all.
