ST. PAUL – Demand for food banks is increasing throughout Canada.
Food Banks Canada has released its HungerCount 2024 report. While the report does not provide an annual figure of individuals accessing food banks, HungerCount uses the month of March as a benchmark to document food bank use in Canada.
The report notes that 2.059 million people visited food banks in March of 2024, which is a 6 per cent increase in 2023, and a 90 per cent increase since 2019.
The surge reflects broader socio-economic trends driven by inflation – particularly the rising costs of essential items like food, shelter, and transportation, which have disproportionately affected low-income households, according to the 2024 report.
Children also continue to make up a significant portion of food bank clients, representing 33 per cent of clients, despite comprising only 20 per cent of the general population.
While official poverty rates (based on income measures) declined due to temporary government support during the pandemic, food insecurity “are rising dramatically,” states the report.
Statistics Canada reports that from 2021 to 2022, 18.4 per cent, or about 7 million people in Canada, lived in food-insecure households – meaning, millions of Canadians are worried about running out of food.
The HungerCount 2024 report also states that food insecurity is not limited to low-income families. Even middle-income earners are now finding it hard to make ends meet, with 18 per cent of food bank users reporting employment as their main source of income.
“Never before have food banks seen such a high level of need among the working population,” reads the report.
Local perspective
In St. Paul, the St. Paul and District Food Bank is experiencing similar pressures. The food bank services clients in the St. Paul region, and four adjacent First Nations communities.
The St. Paul food bank served about 1,000 more clients in 2023 compared to 2022, averaging $4,000 a month on food costs – or about $50,000 per year.
“In 2023, we served over 6,584 adults and 4,702 children,” said Larry Lambert, president of the food bank. So far in 2024, the food bank has served 5,000 adults and 3,573 children, he said.
Clients can access the food bank once a month. Each person receives a hamper worth approximately $60.
Community effort
Despite pressures, Lambert says the food bank is able to serve those in need thanks to community support coming from businesses and individual efforts of community member who have creative solutions like the Turkey Trot run that happened in St. Paul over Thanksgiving weekend.
On Oct. 12, Taylor Charbonneau and Morgan Gerlinsky organized the first Turkey Trot event in St. Paul, gathering food and monetary donations for the food bank.
The organizers thanked everybody who came out, with Charbonneau saying she hopes to organize the event again next year. And “Maybe do a shorter loop if people want to walk, as well,” she said.
According to Charbonneau and Gerlinksy, they decided to organize the event to promote physical activity in a relaxed and fun atmosphere, and simultaneously give back to those in need.
Lambert lauded the efforts of the pair, also acknowledging efforts by those who organize the Santa’s Food Drive parade in St. Paul each year, which also gathers items and funds for the food bank.
“Those are just two examples of the type of people that we have in this community,” said Lambert. “As far as I’m concerned . . . we live in one of the best communities in the world.”
And “It makes me feel absolutely wonderful.”
There are many people to thank, according to Lambert, from community members who grew extra produce in their gardens to provide fresh produce to the food bank, to local grocery stores who continue to give their support.
“To date – with the tremendous support of churches, schools, individual fundraising activities and many corporate donations, the food bank has been able to supply the necessary food to all who require it,” said Lambert.
