Canada’s hunger crisis hits a grim milestone: Over 2 million food bank visits in March 2024
As the holiday season approaches, many of us are thinking about food - planning festive meals, indulging in seasonal treats, and gathering with loved ones around the table. But for far too many Canadians, food is a constant worry, not a celebration.
I was reminded of this recently when I met a family from Northern Ontario. A mother came to pick up a table for her son - a new father who just moved into his first apartment with his girlfriend and their baby. She told me how much it meant to her that this table would become a place for family meals. But then her voice broke as she shared her real concern: “The cost of groceries. It’s getting harder and harder to buy food even though he has a job. He’s making sure his baby has enough to eat… but it means he often doesn’t.”
This is the reality for millions of Canadians - working parents skipping meals so their children don’t go hungry. Food insecurity is a growing crisis, and the rising cost of groceries is forcing families to make impossible sacrifices.
As the year closes, a sobering reality underscores Canada’s worsening poverty crisis: food bank visits across the country have reached record-breaking levels. According to Food Banks Canada’s HungerCount 2024 report, over 2 million visits were made to food banks in March 2024 alone — a staggering 90% increase compared to 2019.
The numbers tell a story of deepening economic hardship:
Nearly 700,000 monthly visits were made by children, representing one-third of all food bank clients.
18% of users are employed — the highest proportion on record — underscoring that having a job no longer protects against food insecurity.
Close to 30% of food banks reported running out of food before meeting demand.
The one-two punch of inflation
The dual pressures of housing and food inflation have left low-income households in impossible situations. Across Canada, families are spending over 80% of their disposable income on basic necessities like housing and groceries.
Here in Ontario, food banks are facing unprecedented strain: record-breaking visits, rising operational costs, and dwindling resources. A recent report revealed that nearly 820,000 people accessed food banks in Ontario last year—an all-time high. And with inflation driving grocery prices higher, the need continues to grow at an alarming rate.
The breaking point
Neil Hetherington, CEO of the Toronto Daily Bread Food Bank, calls it “the breaking point” for the food-banking system. To meet growing demand, food banks like his have increased annual spending exponentially — from $1.5 million in 2020 to $29 million in 2024 — to ensure families receive even three days’ worth of food per visit.
This crisis exposes cracks in Canada’s social safety net. With 70% of food bank clients living in market-rent housing, grossly inadequate provincial supports remain the primary income source for nearly 40% of users. Meanwhile, 32% of clients are newcomers, highlighting gaps in government support for those building new lives in Canada.
Driving change: everyone’s role
Food banks are clear: charity cannot solve this crisis alone. To address food insecurity in Canada, bold government action is required to:
Fix Canada’s broken social safety net.
Modernize support for workers with low incomes.
Tackle the housing affordability crisis.
Provide immediate relief through initiatives like the Groceries and Essentials Benefit.
But governments can’t act without public pressure. That’s why your voice matters.
Take action today
This holiday season, I’m taking action, and here are five things you can do too:
Donate to your local food bank – Whether it’s non-perishables, fresh produce, or monetary contributions, every bit helps.
Volunteer your time – Food banks always need extra hands to sort, pack, and distribute food.
Host a food drive – Rally your community, workplace, or school to collect essential items.
Advocate for change – Speak up about food insecurity and support policies that address poverty and rising costs.
Be a good neighbor – Check in with those around you; sometimes, small acts of kindness can make a big difference.
This holiday season, let’s remember that food insecurity is a year-round issue. Together, we can move beyond charity toward meaningful solutions for hunger and poverty in Canada.
