Food bank use is at an alarming number in Canada. Here’s how you can help

Daily Bread Food Bank CEO Neil Hetherington on the support needed as demand on food banks increases during the holiday season.

With 10 million Canadians living in food insecure households, according to the Daily Bread Food Bank, the importance of food banks in the community is more prevalent than ever.

In Toronto alone, one in 10 people makes use of a food bank, which works out to 4.1 million yearly visits, the organization says. Across the country, 2.8 million Canadians are using food banks every single month.

“In a country as wonderful as ours is, that just shouldn’t be the case,” Daily Bread Food Bank CEO Neil Hetherington told CTV’s Your Morning on Monday.

The demographic of people who rely on food banks is changing too, Hetherington added. Nearly 60 per cent of users are college or university educated, and 50 per cent have full-time employment.

“That social contract that we used to have of you get an education, you get a job, you work hard, you’ll be fine is not the case anymore,” he said.

Gearing up for the holiday season has been especially challenging, Hetherington said. The Daily Bread Food Bank has raised its donation goal in Toronto to $40 million from $8 million previously, he added.

“All that does is maintain service levels across Toronto,” he said.

While donated non-perishable food is always appreciated, Hetherington stressed that cash donations go even further. For example, farmers in Ontario can get a tax credit for donating crops to food banks. Cash donations go towards services like renting a truck to pick up the tens of thousands of pounds of fresh donated produce, which the food bank distributes to those who need it.

“That now is by far the majority of what we donate at the food bank,” he said. “It’s fresh food.”

The holiday season is a time that traditionally sees a spike in donations, as Canadians give back to their community. However, Hetherington said food bank use is a year-round issue, with July and August being the most challenging months, as people aren’t thinking about donating as much during the summer holidays.

“There are no meal programs at schools and it’s incredibly difficult for folks at that time,” he said. “It’s during the holidays when we’re most grateful, when we’re most generous, when we need to stock the shelves.”

While donating cash and cans isn’t possible for all Canadians, Hetherington said everyone can advocate for better living conditions.

“That means developing affordable housing and making sure people on disability have incomes that don’t make them rely on friends, family and charity,” he said.