Food banks across the country have seen more usage than ever, with this past month breaking records from coast to coast. London sees this as food banks and community outlets are trying to keep up with the demand.
Statistics across the board show a gradual rise in numbers with no clear signs of stabilizing or slowing, the Crouch Neighbourhood Resource Centre has seen a 30 percent increase of people using their community cupboard in just the past 6 months according to Steacy Martin the Executive Director of CROUCH.
Steacy Martin, Executive Director of CROUCH (Benjamin McFadden/XFM News)
“Absolutely it has, especially in London… we are seeing a very high number of households coming, that we not coming before,” said Martin.
Monthly visits to centres that help with food security are up by close to nine percent in comparison to 2025, and this shows in almost every Food Bank in the country. These rise in numbers means a different demographic using the services available.
“Our numbers have doubled since the pandemic, most food banks were not prepared for that to happen… and neither were we,” said Glen Pearson, the Co-Director of London Food Bank.
London Food Bank, which recently celebrated its 40 year-anniversary is a community service which helps 17 thousand people a month with anything from food security to clothing and hygiene necessities.
Rising cost of living expenses has been named as one of the main contributors to these jarring statistics, these rise in numbers means a different demographic using the services available.
“In the past 3 years I would say the the bottom half of the middle class are in a much more precarious position,” Pearson said.
“Those using the Food Banks look just like you and me, they look like my neighbours!” Pearson remarked.
The rise also sees an increase in those that are behind the tables and booths with employment at Food Banks rising as well.
Glen Pearson, Co-Director of London Food Bank (Benjamin McFadden/XFM News)
Pearson, who has been at the head of the London Food bank with his wife Jane since 1986, recalls back to when the Canada Assistance Plan was active and how this problem should be covered by the governments both provincial and federal. The assistance plan was later scraped after a $40 Billion debt which was thrusted upon provincial governments. Glen Pearson expressed his unique view on this matter amongst Food Bank directors.
“Homelessness is really expensive to treat, and after the change of government responsibilities in the early 90s local jurisdictions were now responsible for most social matters… but with a new severe lack of funding, and from there homelessness just mushroomed,” Pearson claimed.
As the numbers continue to rise the government continues to try and resolve the issue, but local food security centres are saying more needs to be done.
The Honourable Heath MacDonald, Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food will be in Etobicoke, Ontario to announce investments aimed at supporting food security across communities on October 23.
With continued speeches and campaigns from those in politics food centre workers are trying their best to help those they can with so many new faces visiting.
Community cupboard desk at CROUCH (Benjamin McFadden/XFM News)
