A focus on fresh, year-round and for all

In the work that I do as a Canadian well-being professional, I know we’re all trying to be as healthy as we can across different aspects of our lives. The choices we make to uphold our well-being are largely personal, and for many however, circumstances beyond their control limit the freedom when it comes to making decisions that affect one’s health.

Nearly 50% of Canadians have reduced the quantity of meat or protein sources they purchase due to increased food costs – Dalhousie University

Never-ending surges in food prices are impacting households and individuals in multiple ways. More and more, people are leaving food behind simply because they can’t afford items (including dairy, protein, fresh fruits and vegetables). As well, worry is stacking about the long-term health impacts of compromising nutrition because of cost. Food insecurity – and reduced intake of nutritious food – is associated with a host of health conditions including diabetes, oral health problems, cardiovascular disease, anxiety and depression, chronic pain, infectious diseases and premature death (Canadian Public Health Association).

Food Banks Canada (FBC), in collaboration with the national food banking network, works tirelessly to address this nutrition gap, bringing innovative programs and initiatives to place wholesome, nutritious food into the hands of people in need. Examples include:

• Large scale food recovery programs mean that fresh, surplus food from grocery and retail partners is shared with local distributors who stock food bank fridges with care or hand-deliver fresh produce.

• Increased financial investments are being made in equipment and infrastructure to help stretch the freshness of soon to expire food so more people can eat well, as they deserve to.

• Hundreds of thousands of pounds of high-quality, fresh food is collected from Canadian farmers, manufacturers and other distributors through a combination of seasonal growing and gleaning (the collection of good, surplus fresh produce from farms.)

Although 40% of all food currently distributed by Food Banks Canada is fresh, there’s more work to do seeing as though high grocery costs aren’t seemingly abating any time soon.

 By 2025, FBC aims to ensure that 60% of all food distributed by food banks across Canada is fresh.

 All of this requires more equipment, more staff, more prioritization – and as community members, we can help.

Whether through one-time donations or showing reoccurring support, generous dollars offered to Food Banks Canada directly fuel food security initiatives to ensure equitable and sustainable access to nutritious food.

Donations help Food Banks Canada fund grants for local food bank organizations so they can undertake special projects and grow their capacity to help more people, including implementing the infrastructure needed to accept, distribute, grow, and safely store perishable food for their clients to better meet the needs of the community.

Too many people across Canada are making the impossible choice between paying bills or putting good, nutritious food on the table. Arguably, and increasingly, we know the extents to which food bank operators are going to feed people in need. We must continue to applaud them while also challenging leaders across the country to place focus on addressing (and ending) causes and consequences of food insecurity.

 Not to mention, stepping up as and where we can to help.

Spotlight on

Food Banks Mississauga is located just outside of Toronto and is the largest food security organization in Mississauga. Its mission is to lead a network of 65+ agency members, including neighbourhood food banks, pantries, cupboards and meal and snack programs to realize a food-secure Mississauga.

Through its network, FBM provides healthy and appropriate food for almost 6 million meals each year to neighbours facing food security and for 2024, FBM is projecting a need for over 8 million meals served.

Food Banks Mississauga volunteer - used with permission from Food Banks Mississauga

Balancing equity with accessibility, FBM strives to bring neighbours healthy and nutritious meals and their unique Food Bank 2 Home Program ensures no community member is left out. The program brings custom orders of healthy, fresh, and shelf-stable food directly to homebound neighbours aged 65+ years with mobility restrictions or other challenges.  Clients choose what they need for each of their monthly deliveries to ensure the food they’re providing are items they want and can use.

Food Banks Mississauga CEO, Meghan Nicholls

FBM’s CEO Meghan Nicholls and her team realize that the work they do is more than just feeding people in need. Food banks were originally created to address short-term emergencies, but now, are permanent engines of safety as more and more residents descend further into poverty as the cost of living rises and incomes fail to keep pace. Nicholls and her team work tirelessly to provide food for those going hungry across the city.

Very much so, their creative and humanistic approach to serving all
neighbours is impressive – their Pop-Up Food Bank is centred on meeting people where they need help the most.

This program operates in high-priority neighbourhoods to bring fresh fruit and vegetables, grains, healthy snacks and more to all those who may need them. Modelled after a farmer's market, the Pop-Up Food Bank allows folks to 'shop' for the fresh food they need and otherwise may not be able to buy. It gives them the flexibility to choose fresh, nutritious foods that they may forgo in grocery stores due to high prices or because grocery stores are few and far between in their neighbourhood.

Pop-up food bank - used with permission from Food Banks Mississauga

Monetary donations are always welcome and go towards things like gas for distribution trucks and keeping their 43,000 square foot facility running, which includes a large fridge and freezer to store fresh and frozen food.

Local delivery truck - used with permission from Food Banks Mississauga