York Region food banks struggle to keep up with 'alarming' increase in demand

Rising food costs, the pandemic and seasonal summer donation slump have left food stocks depleted

Yorkregion.com
July 7, 2023
Kim Zarzour

York Region food banks are reporting an alarming increase in the number of people seeking their help this summer.

Food donations tend to decline in summer, but the need for food assistance does not -- and that's especially true this year, they say.

Richmond Hill Community Food Bank is struggling to meet the rising demand and “stark reality” of food insecurity, said General Manager Lee Reynolds.

“We are serving more than 2,800 individuals per month. 1,300 families from both Richmond Hill and Thornhill,” she said.

This represents a 66 per cent increase over last year and a 100 per cent increase over 2021, she added.

The most significant increase is among those aged 65 and older, Reynolds said.

There is also a big increase in the number of double-income families seeking help from food pantries along with families of immigrants and refugees arriving daily from countries such as Iran and Ukraine, she said.

More than half of food pantry clients are people of colour, more than half are women and a third are children, she said.

The Vaughan Food Bank is also struggling.

“It’s been absolutely nuts around here,” said Executive Director Peter Wixson.

The Vaughan agency is one of the major suppliers for people fleeing Ukraine -- about 200 families staying at hotels near the airport -- as well as Six Nations groups and a multicultural local population with diverse food requirements, Wixson said.

“It’s starting to drain us, but we’re managing.”

Alex Bilotta, Food Bank of York Region’s founder and CEO, said food service providers across the region are reporting an increase of 25 per cent in 2022, with the increase continuing in 2023.

“We are seeing a continuous rise in demand for food assistance in the region, in particular for low-income households,” Bilotta said. “However, food donations have dropped significantly in recent times, and we are not generating the amounts of food needed to keep up.”

Reynolds points to rising food costs, inflation and the residual impact of COVID-19 and she sees no sign of relief ahead.

“From all accounts, the demand is only going to increase,” she said. "This year, our spending on food will increase by 56 per cent over 2022 to address both the rising demand and the incredibly high cost of food.”

Food bank providers are appealing to food retailers, businesses and the public to donate wherever possible. Here's how you can help:

Aurora Food Pantry

PHONE: 905-841-1577

WEBSITE: aurorafoodpantry.ca

Bradford West Gwillimbury -- Helping Hand Food Bank

PHONE: 905-775-2824

WEBSITE: bradfordfoodbank.ca

East Gwillimbury -- Holland Landing Food Pantry

PHONE: 905-836-6492

WEBSITE: egpl.ca

Georgina Community Food Pantry

PHONE: 905-596-0557

WEBSITE: georginafoodpantry.com

King Township Food Bank

PHONE: 905-806-1125

WEBSITE: ktfb.ca

Markham Food Bank

PHONE: 905-472-2437

WEBSITE: markhamfoodbank.ca

Newmarket Food Pantry

PHONE: 905-895-6823

WEBSITE: newmarketfoodpantry.ca

Richmond Hill Community Food Bank

PHONE: 905-508-4761

WEBSITE: richmondhillcommunityfoodbank.ca

Vaughan Food Bank

PHONE: 905-851-2333

WEBSITE: vaughanfoodbank.ca

Whitchurch-Stouffville Food Bank

PHONE: 905-591-4443

WEBSITE: wsfoodbank.ca

Food Bank of York Region

PHONE: 437-317-3710

WEBSITE: fbyr.ca