Food Bank of Waterloo Region weighs in on record-breaking food bank visits in province
New numbers show more people are relying on food banks as a result of the cost-of-living crisis.
“The data we are about to share reveals food bank use has reached an all-time high in Ontario,” Feed Ontario CEO Carolyn Stewart told food bank representatives Tuesday morning in Mississauga.
Based on data from Feed Ontario, a network of hunger-relief organizations, more than one million people visited a food bank between April 1, 2023 and March 31, 2024. That’s a 25 per cent increase over last year.
“That’s one million people in Ontario not having enough food to eat, one million people having to make impossible choices between paying rent or choosing groceries for their family. And one million people unable to keep their heads above water and in need of help,” Stewart said.
The data also shows 7.6 million visits to Ontario food banks within the past year, up 17 per cent from the year before. It also marks a 134 per cent jump from 2019-2020.
“We are tired of breaking records, and we are tired of feeling like those in government who should be responding with a sense of urgency aren't hearing the alarm bells that we're ringing,” Kirstin Beardsley, Food Banks Canada CEO, said at Tuesday’s press conference.
Impact in Waterloo Region
Those same alarm bells are going off at the Food Bank of Waterloo Region. CEO Kim Wilhelm was also at the press conference, echoing the concerns from other organizations.
“In Waterloo Region right now, one in 10 households is accessing food assistance,” she said. “Last year, it was one in 14 and two years ago, one in 20 households.”
While many have wondered if the influx of international students is driving up the numbers, local data shows that’s not the case.
“Students as a whole in Waterloo Region make up less than five per cent of the participants who are accessing food assistance,” Wilhelm explained.
Food banks across the province, meanwhile, are worried that if the cost of living doesn’t go down, the number of people accessing their services will only go up.
“We’re not going to see the end in sight,” said Wilhelm. “Right now, the government is expecting food banks to solve the problem, but food banks can't solve the problems.”
They are a temporary measure, she adds, because that’s all they were ever designed to be.
- With reporting from CTVNewsToronto.ca
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Poilievre supports Israel 'proactively striking' Iranian nuclear sites to defend itself
Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre is supporting Israel's right to defend itself against Iran following last week's ballistic missile attack, saying that right includes 'proactively striking Iranian nuclear sites and oil installations to defund the terrorist regime.'
Hurricane Milton strengthens into a Category 5 storm. Florida orders evacuations
Florida's storm-battered Gulf Coast raced against a Category 5 hurricane Monday as workers sprinted to pick up heaps of appliances and other street debris left over from Helene two weeks ago and highways were clogged with people fleeing ahead of the storm.
'Selfish billionaire': Chip Wilson's mansion vandalized after political sign erected outside
Days after a political sign was erected outside Lululemon founder Chip Wilson's Vancouver mansion, the waterfront property has been vandalized with graffiti.
'Feel free to get naked,' witness testifies Toronto councillor told her during 'networking' weekend
Toronto Coun. Michael Thompson 'forced himself on' a woman who awoke to find him standing over her after she fell asleep drunk, the Crown alleged Monday, as the five-day sexual assault trial of the six-term politician began in Bracebridge, Ont.
Is Disney World still open as Hurricane Milton strengthens to a Category 5?
Despite Hurricane Milton evolving into a Category 5 storm, Walt Disney World Resort remains open to the public and will operate as normal. However, the park announced Monday a few closures in an abundance of caution.
Disgraced former Winnipeg football coach sentenced to 20 years in prison for sexual assault
A disgraced Winnipeg high school football coach convicted of sexual assault and luring will spend 20 years behind bars.
Two people injured in apparent road rage incident, shooting in Toronto
Two people are in hospital after they were chased and shot at in what appears to be an act of road rage before eventually flipping their car while trying to escape, police say.
Sammy Basso, longest living survivor of rare rapid-aging disease progeria, dies at 28
Sammy Basso, who was the longest living survivor of the rare genetic disease progeria, has died at the age of 28, the Italian Progeria Association said on Sunday.
Prayers, protests and police as Canada marks anniversary of Oct. 7 Hamas attack
With prayers, protests, and a heavy police presence, Canada has marked the anniversary of the Oct. 7, 2023, attack by Hamas on Israel that killed about 1,200 people and triggered an ongoing war.