The Barrie Food Bank is celebrating a big holiday win after smashing its fundraising goal, making sure hundreds of local families have enough to eat this season. The team aimed to raise $1.16 million and collect 500,000 pounds of food. Executive Director Karen Shuh says the response was overwhelming. “We not only met those goals, but we exceeded them by a large margin,” said Shuh. Each month, 8,100 people rely on the Barrie Food Bank. Thirty-eight per cent of those served are children. Working families have seen the largest increase in the need for assistance. While demand continues to rise year over year, volunteers say a strong holiday campaign provides benefits well beyond the Christmas season. “We can now plan for 2026 with certainty, as opposed to instability,” Shuh explained. “We can stock our shelves and plan ahead.” As the cost of everyday living continues to rise—especially food—Canada’s grocery code of conduct is set to take effect in the coming days. The voluntary code outlines standards meant to guide relationships between grocery retailers and suppliers. Food economist Mike Von Massow from the University of Guelph says the code focuses on fairness and transparency. “The code of conduct is very simply a framework or set of guidelines on the relationship between grocers and their suppliers,” Von Massow said. While the goal is to promote a fair and transparent supply chain, experts warn consumers should not expect prices to come down. “The transparency is good, and the dispute settlement is good, but don’t expect decreased food prices because of the grocery code of conduct,” Von Massow added. Canadians are being warned to prepare for higher food costs in the coming year. The average family of four is expected to spend about $1,000 more on groceries. That’s not what most shoppers were hoping to hear. “I thought the prices were insane,” said Barrie resident Sarah Cannon. “I looked at things we used to pay for and just went, ‘ugh.’” Food banks like the one in Barrie say 2026 is likely to be another challenging year, as they anticipate continued growth in demand while also hoping donations will keep pace.
