Real people making a real difference in the fight against hunger
With a national network consisting of food banks, agencies, and provincial associations, Food Banks Canada is proud to be part of a community that is driven by a passion to impact lives for the better. These are the stories that feed our desire to make a difference.
When the Cherryville Food & Resources Society received a grant in 2017 to support a collective community garden initiative, food bank president Sharon Harvey says she knew exactly who to call to get growing. As a small, rural community in the North Okanagan area of B.C. with a population of less than 1,000, Harvey says…
2021 was the best year yet for the Ottawa Food Bank’s Community Harvest Program. With over 167,000 pounds of fruit and vegetables produced for clients in need across the national capital region last year, Community Harvest Manager Jason Gray says the program was able to reap a record-breaking crop through the generosity and dedication of…
Back in 2010, a community-minded neighbour in Saskatoon was inspired to repurpose a vacant lot that was overgrown with waist-high weeds as a productive plot for the Saskatoon Food Bank & Learning Centre. Since then, the 1.5-acre urban farm has been able to grow almost 200,000 pounds of nourishing produce for emergency food hampers. But…
There’s something wholesome about getting your hands dirty in the garden and growing your own food. That’s if you ask Alex Boyd, the executive director of Fredericton’s Greener Village food bank in New Brunswick. “There’s just something therapeutic about working the ground, being outside, and getting the fresh air and the sunlight,” Boyd says. “I…
We are always interested in hearing more about the individuals in food banking across Canada! This month, our spotlight is on Dan Huang-Taylor from Food Banks BC. What is your role in food banking? I am the executive director for Food Banks BC. I am part of a team of six staff that support our…
There’s a lot more to food banking in Canada than meets the eye. In the network of over 4,750 hunger relief organizations supported by Food Banks Canada across the country, donations of money and food — combined with local storage and distribution capacity — are brought together by food banks of all different sizes in…
When life gives you potatoes, make tuktu poutine! That’s what the Ikurraq Food Bank in Rankin Inlet, Nunavut did after receiving 22,500 pounds of P.E.I. potatoes distributed by Food Banks Canada between March and May this spring. Utilizing its strong food recovery network, the Ikurraq Food Bank secured funding to purchase cheese and gravy, and…
Every year, food banks in Canada strive to ensure that individuals experiencing food insecurity are provided with fresh and nutritious food where and when they need it most. With the abundance of choices on the shelves of your local grocer, accessibility to these items may appear relatively easy. However, with the increasing cost of living,…
Child hunger in Canada is a serious issue. Year after year, one of the most alarming findings to emerge from Food Banks Canada’s annual HungerCount report is how disproportionately food insecurity is impacting children — even in a country as wealthy as ours. According to HungerCount 2021, one third of food bank clients in Canada are…
We are always interested in hearing more about the individuals in food banking across Canada! This month, our spotlight is on Arianna Scott from Food Banks Alberta. What is your role in food banking? 2011–2018: Executive Director, Wood Buffalo Food Bank, Fort McMurray, Alberta 2013–2015: Various Positions on the Board of Alberta Food Banks Network…
