Staggering Numbers as Mississauga Saw The Fastest Growing Food Bank Usage in All of Ontario
Food Banks Mississauga releases their latest annual Impact Report, showing a food insecurity crisis in the city
421,251, that’s the total number of visits Mississauga residents made to Food Banks Mississauga and their network of 60+ agency members last year.
Food Banks Mississauga releases their annual Impact Report as it serves another record-breaking number of food bank visitors across the city. The report shares how 8% of Mississauga’s population – or 1 in 13 residents – uses a food bank, with 28% being children.
“Food banks were meant to be a temporary emergency support, not a replacement for government social assistance programs,” says Meghan Nicholls, CEO of Food Banks Mississauga. “But almost 40 years later, we must show that we are in a food insecurity crisis because government programs are underfunded and haven’t kept up with the rising cost of living. People shouldn’t have to choose between paying rent, feeding themselves, or feeding their families. With the fastest-growing rate of food bank use in the province, our network’s capacity is maxing out. It’s only thanks to our community’s support and generosity that we can continue providing food to our neighbours today while advocating for policy change for tomorrow.”
In their last fiscal year (June 2023 – May 2024), Food Banks Mississauga and their network of 60+ agency members saw 421,251 food bank visits – an almost 80% year-over-year increase. They provided healthy and appropriate food to 56,267 neighbours in need, which is a 58% increase compared to last year, a growth rate higher than the provincial increase of 25%. The number of children they saw has also increased by 42% – that’s almost 16,000 children relying on a food bank. Across their network, they distributed over 9 million pounds of food, a 55% increase from the previous year. These numbers reflect the evergrowing food insecurity crisis.
The report also highlights how the community’s support enabled Food Banks Mississauga to run programs to reach neighbours where they need support the most, how it impacted food bank visitors by sharing their stories, and how the community can raise their voices and call on their elected officials to support those who are living precariously and facing food insecurity.
Read the full annual Impact Report today!
