Food Bank

Canned products sit on shelves at a food bank in Ottawa, Friday, Oct. 7, 2022. Food Banks BC executive director Dan Huang-Taylor said that in March there were just under 98,000 people in B.C. accessing Food Banks BC’s 107 member organizations. It’s the highest Food Banks BC has seen, and a 30-per-cent increase from 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld

Food Banks BC sees 30% increase in users since 2022

Executive director says cost of living, climate emergencies all contributors

 

Figures from Statistics Canada show that the wholesale and retail trade lost 8,500 workers in January 2024 as the provincial unemployment rate dropped to 5.4 per cent. (Black Press Media file photo)

B.C.’s unemployment rate improves despite losing 2,600 jobs

Seasonal, weather-dependent industries lost jobs, while business, public administration gained jobs

 

Boxes of donated food items are shown at the Moisson Montreal food bank in Montreal, Saturday, December 7, 2019. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Graham Hughes

Challenging month for Canadian food banks amid holidays, rising demand

The latest numbers available show over 1.9 million Canadians accessed a food bank in just one month

 

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‘Ski bum’ ‘free ride’ accusations spark B.C. food bank access debate

As demand increases, Revelstoke charity deals with questions over who should be using its services

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A cart is filled with pre-filled bags of food, during a Thanksgiving food drive for the Ottawa Food Bank at a grocery store in Ottawa, on Saturday, Oct. 7, 2023. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Justin Tang

‘Most challenging Thanksgiving:’ Holiday marked with soaring food bank use

Greater Vancouver Food Bank supporting 16,000 to 17,000 people a month, says COO

A cart is filled with pre-filled bags of food, during a Thanksgiving food drive for the Ottawa Food Bank at a grocery store in Ottawa, on Saturday, Oct. 7, 2023. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Justin Tang
Jann Arden designed the limited edition Animal Food Bank hoodie. (animalfoodbank.org)

Animal Food Bank to send 16 pallets of cat food across Western Canada

The organization needs $2,500 to ship the $85,000 of food

  • Oct 6, 2023
Jann Arden designed the limited edition Animal Food Bank hoodie. (animalfoodbank.org)
A volunteer at the Surrey Food Bank in 2022 sets up food for clients. A new poverty report card from Food Banks Canada shows B.C.’s unaffordable housing market is just one of the reasons why the province is barely passing. (Lauren Collins)

B.C. gets a D+ in Food Banks Canada’s poverty report card

Inaugural release shows B.C.’s housing market is ‘big factor’ in rising food insecurity rates

A volunteer at the Surrey Food Bank in 2022 sets up food for clients. A new poverty report card from Food Banks Canada shows B.C.’s unaffordable housing market is just one of the reasons why the province is barely passing. (Lauren Collins)
Workers gather food for a homeless mission while at the Edmonton Food Bank, in Edmonton on Friday July 21, 2023. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jason Franson.

Gleaning, produce rescue at food banks helps feed communities, reduce waste

‘What prevailed was the practicality that food should not go to waste’

Workers gather food for a homeless mission while at the Edmonton Food Bank, in Edmonton on Friday July 21, 2023. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jason Franson.
North Island MLA Michele Babchuk ties the apron up on Social Development and Poverty Reduction Minister Sheila Malcolmson as B.C. Premier David Eby adjusts his during the announcement of $7.5 million to the United Way by the province for Food Hubs. Photo by Edward Hitchins/Campbell River Mirror

Provincial government announces $7.5 million investment in food hub funding

Goal is to double the number of B.C.’s food hubs to 40 from the current 20

North Island MLA Michele Babchuk ties the apron up on Social Development and Poverty Reduction Minister Sheila Malcolmson as B.C. Premier David Eby adjusts his during the announcement of $7.5 million to the United Way by the province for Food Hubs. Photo by Edward Hitchins/Campbell River Mirror
Jody Williams, executive director of Bridges to Hope, a food bank in St. John’s, poses for a picture at the facility on Monday, June 19, 2023. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Paul Daly

‘We’re addressing the symptom, not the cause’: food banks across Canada

The word “crisis” comes up quickly when speaking with those who run…

Jody Williams, executive director of Bridges to Hope, a food bank in St. John’s, poses for a picture at the facility on Monday, June 19, 2023. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Paul Daly
Santa Claus Parade chair Shane Nickel-Thibodeau handed Cranbrook Foodbank Society volunteer coordinator Rachel Wolff a cheque for $3,957.03 on March 22. The money will go towards obtaining food essentials to feed locals in need (photo by Gillian Francis)

Supply chain shortage impacts Calgary and Cranbrook food banks

Calgary Food Bank has stopped supplying Cranbrook Foodbank Society with goods

Santa Claus Parade chair Shane Nickel-Thibodeau handed Cranbrook Foodbank Society volunteer coordinator Rachel Wolff a cheque for $3,957.03 on March 22. The money will go towards obtaining food essentials to feed locals in need (photo by Gillian Francis)
Boxes wait to be filled with provisions at The Daily Bread Food Bank warehouse in Toronto on Wednesday March 18, 2020. Canadian food insecurity researchers say holiday appeals for people to donate to their local food banks can be tough swallow. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chris Young

Why anti-poverty researchers bristle at holiday appeals for food bank donations

Addressing hunger requires systemic changes, researchers say

Boxes wait to be filled with provisions at The Daily Bread Food Bank warehouse in Toronto on Wednesday March 18, 2020. Canadian food insecurity researchers say holiday appeals for people to donate to their local food banks can be tough swallow. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chris Young
From left to right, Salvation Army Captain Matt Kean, Chilliwack Food Bank co-ordinator Don Armstrong, Chilliwack farmer Larissa Garcia, and Captain Fiona Kean. (BC Egg photo)

600,000 eggs donated by farmers to food banks across B.C. by end of 2022

‘We don’t want any parents to be in a position where they can’t feed their kids’ - Chilliwack egg farmer

From left to right, Salvation Army Captain Matt Kean, Chilliwack Food Bank co-ordinator Don Armstrong, Chilliwack farmer Larissa Garcia, and Captain Fiona Kean. (BC Egg photo)
Boxes wait to be filled with provisions at The Daily Bread Food Bank warehouse in Toronto on Wednesday, March 18, 2020. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chris Young

Food bank usage across Canada hit all-time high, nearly 1.5M visits in March: report

Numbers 35 per cent higher than visits in March 2019, before the pandemic hit

Boxes wait to be filled with provisions at The Daily Bread Food Bank warehouse in Toronto on Wednesday, March 18, 2020. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chris Young
A Thanksgiving turkey dinner is shown in Toronto on Tuesday, Sept. 25, 2012. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Nathan Denette

VIDEO: Thanksgiving dinner will come with a hefty price tag this year

Homemade turkey dinner now more than $200 for a family of four

A Thanksgiving turkey dinner is shown in Toronto on Tuesday, Sept. 25, 2012. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Nathan Denette
Kashish Hukku Jani is seen in Vancouver, on Monday, Sept. 26, 2022. Jani, 22, a fourth-year communication design student at Emily Carr University, said skyrocketing living costs make it hard to focus on her studies. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jonathan Hayward

Inflation hits international students hard, with some turning to food banks

One Vancouver food bank said three-quarters of the students it aids were from overseas

Kashish Hukku Jani is seen in Vancouver, on Monday, Sept. 26, 2022. Jani, 22, a fourth-year communication design student at Emily Carr University, said skyrocketing living costs make it hard to focus on her studies. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jonathan Hayward
A national school food program is needed, B.C. advocates are urging. (Erin Thompson/Peninsula Clarion file)

Urgent need for a national school food program in classrooms: B.C. group

The Coalition for Healthy School Food wants the federal government to create a national program.

A national school food program is needed, B.C. advocates are urging. (Erin Thompson/Peninsula Clarion file)
Chilliwack was one of a number of communities plunged underwater by the November 2021 floods. B.C. is investing $2.85 million in food security funding to help build better emergency response systems and resiliency. (Jenna Hauck/ Chilliwack Progress)

B.C. announces $2.85-million food security fund ahead of wildfire, flood season

Fund includes pilot test for app that allows communities to request food as needed

Chilliwack was one of a number of communities plunged underwater by the November 2021 floods. B.C. is investing $2.85 million in food security funding to help build better emergency response systems and resiliency. (Jenna Hauck/ Chilliwack Progress)
Don Armstrong, food bank coordinator for Salvation Army of Chilliwack. (Jennifer Feinberg/Chilliwack Progress file)

9 Lower Mainland mayors raising funds to feed the hungry in Mayors’ Food Bank Challenge

“Food insecurity can be an ongoing, often difficult problem to see,” says Chilliwack mayor

Don Armstrong, food bank coordinator for Salvation Army of Chilliwack. (Jennifer Feinberg/Chilliwack Progress file)