Foodbanks Canada has released disturbing numbers when it comes to foodbanks including more than 700,000 visits by children in March 2025, 340,000 more visits than what was recorded in 2020. With foodbank usage increasing, the summer months are often slower on the donation side. Richard Matern, director of research for Foodbanks Canada said foodbank usage has almost doubled since the pandemic. “Last year we saw record foodbank usage,” said Matern. “And that was 2.2 million visits in one month.” He added the same pressures are felt year over year including affordability challenges and gaps in safety nets and the demographic feeling it the most are children home for the summer. “When school is out these programs temporarily end so, in many cases, some of that supplement to their food budgets and some of the support there is not there during the summer,” said Matern. Karen Shuh, executive director of Barrie Foodbank said while donations are they are looking for donations like beverages and kids’ snacks. “Children are at home, they’re eating more, and school snacks we’re available at school, but now parents are finding the grocery bills are quite high,” said Shuh. Savanaha O’Reilly, manager of operations at the Foodbank in Alliston said they see almost 1100 people a month and those numbers have been consistent since the beginning of January. “We are really seeing is an increase in homeowners and those that are employed, full time and working,” said O’Reilly. “So we are seeing a change in the demographic, but not necessarily a spike in those that are accessing our services.” O’Reilly is also looking for kids snacks donations. “Funding and food donations are down to about 16 per cent down on those, year over year,” she said. September to December are generally the months when foodbanks receive the most donations and O’Reilly is hoping a fundraiser on August 22 will help send kids to school with snacks. “We’re going to have a school food drive at all our local grocery stores, so, we’re packing up, snacks for school,” said O’Reilly. “So granola bars, applesauce, fruit cups, items like that that are easy to pack for families that are on the go and busy working.” And while foodbanks continue to provide food to thousands of families throughout the community, The Barrie Foodbank is reporting an interesting number when it comes to usage. “I know this is only one month, but we saw a 2 per cent year over year decline for the first time in 14 months,” said Shuh. “So, we remain hopeful.” Shuh added she believes the federal Groceries and Essentials Benefit was the reason for the decline. “it’s positive but we have to remember that clients don’t come every month and so clients come to us when they have a temporary crisis in their situation, maybe a roof repair or automobile repair or sick days that they’ve lost their income,” said Shuh. “So a 2 per cent decline is great but the true story will happen over the next couple of months.”
