Take two – coming together, again, to address food insecurity in Canada

“It takes much more than food to overcome food insecurity in Canada… it takes a nationwide network of passionate partners working arm-in-arm, day in and day out.” – Food Banks Canada, October 2022

When I set out to write my book titled My Nonna Ma’s Kitchen in August 2020, my aim was to reflect on my grandmother’s personal journey so I could honour and remember her in my own way. She loved to cook and as I wrote out her cherished recipes, I couldn’t help but think about how food unites us and for so many of us, how easy it is to just get in our car and go pick up whatever it is we want, whenever we want it.

But for so many Canadians, access to nutritious and wholesome food is inequitable for a variety of reasons. Reasons that are misunderstood, and sadly, surrounded by stigma.

My partnership with Food Banks Canada has been an important one in my career to date; I’ve come to understand what food insecurity really means and we can’t sit by and accept that close to 6 million people live in a household that have to choose between keeping the lights on, skipping a meal, or eating less than they should because there wasn’t enough money for food.

Since 2020, my book titled Nonna Ma’s Kitchen has raised close to $60,000 in generous donations for Food Banks Canada. This totals more than 400,000 net new meals for Canadians in need.

Food Banks Canada Annual Report, 2021 - Donor support at the individual level

Food bank clients are our neighbours and the work done by Food Banks Canada, and local community food drives, are making a difference in getting food on the table. But food insecurity isn’t just about hunger; rather, it’s about different experiences in access to food and collectively we can turn those experiences into more positive ones.

Canadians are still going hungry

“Even gifting $1 means that two meals can be offered to someone in need. ”

There’s more work to be done and that’s why I’m so pleased to see the second edition of this book in circulation. You may already have your own copy because you offered your help in 2020 in getting closer to a day where no Canadian goes hungry.

With so many vulnerable citizens in need right now, consider offering donation of any amount – and know that no amount is too small.

I realize it will take time to thoroughly set up the equitable and sustainable solutions needed to address the broader issues surrounding food insecurity which include (but are not limited to) availability, access, food waste, geographical location, social factors, unemployment, illness, and housing. But until then, it’s encouraging to know that 84% of Canadians who see hunger and food insecurity as a real problem are willing to do something about it. People like you. I’m inspired to know that compassion and kindness truly does exist in our world.

New goal! Let’s get to $100,000