From reducing the number of visits to how much food is given out, food banks across Canada are changing how they operate as demand has become “unprecedented.”
Earlier this month, the food bank in Moose Jaw, Sask., said visitors had increased by 150 per cent compared to four years ago, forcing the non-profit to decide to hand out goods once a month instead of its current twice-monthly pickup program.
But service changes are happening from coast to coast to coast, with Food Banks Alberta saying it hasn’t slowed down.
“What we’re seeing really across the country and certainly across the province of Alberta has been just unprecedented growth in demand and need for food support and service from food banks,” said Melissa From, a board member of Food Banks Alberta.
From, who is also president and CEO of the Calgary Food Bank, said it really started with the “pivotal moment” of the COVID-19 pandemic when issues of employment and income insecurity struck. After that, Canada-wide inflation raised the costs of things like mortgages, fuel and food, which spurred more requests for food.
According to Food Banks Alberta, 132,402 people received food from a food bank in the province this month, with 36 per cent of users being children.
From said increasing demand has meant changes, particularly to smaller communities, as they have less money and donations.
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“We have some food banks that are having to make the decision to give less food to more people,” she said. “We have some folks who are having to figure out how to triage the clients that are coming to them and who needs support the most, and so no two food banks are facing the same situation, although many of the same challenges.”
The story is the same in Ontario, with food banks across the province reporting economic uncertainties creating another “challenging year” for many.
Feed Ontario reports that in 2025, food banks in the province served more than one million people who accessed its services more than 8.7 million times.
The non-profit added in the 2025 survey of its network, just 33 per cent of food banks stated at the time they were able to meet demand. Others had to adapt.
“So whether that be having to adapt their services, reduce from every single week to visiting twice a month to instead of providing seven days worth of food, providing five days worth of food to cutting wraparound support,” said Carolyn Stewart, CEO of Feed Ontario.
Stewart said some employees of food banks have also reported purchasing food for their programs, because they’ve also faced a decline in donations as previous donors have also been facing their own financial difficulties.
Despite the increased need, Stewart told Global News that even with food banks stretched, people should not be discouraged from visiting.
“If you’re in need and you’re in need of food, please come in the door,” she said.
Food Banks Canada notes food insecurity is stretching from big cities like Vancouver and Toronto to small communities like Moose Jaw or Truro, N.S.
Kirstin Beardsley, CEO of Food Banks Canada, said issues like the cost of housing are pushing people towards the service.
“This isn’t a problem for one part of the country or one type of community,” said Beardsley.
The latest Hunger Count by Food Banks Canada report found 52 per cent of food banks in its network had to give out less food than usual in 2025 and 23 per cent ran out of food before demand was met.
Beardsley said it’s why governments of all levels need to continue to address food security and put in investments and policies that can help with issues like affordable housing and the price of food that is creating this struggle.
However, she added that one broad-based policy or change isn’t going to fix it for the entire country.
“The thing about food insecurity is there isn’t sort of a silver bullet or a one-size-fits-all,” Beardsley said.
This is because the goverment is taking in too many immigrants and refugees without the capacity to feed them and find them jobs. Many of the women dont work and they form long lines during the days while their kids are at daycare on subsidy. I see it everyday so i can speak on it! The goverment need to stop letting in all these Muslim families that have no intention to assimilate and work to build our economy and instead strain our resources.
It also greatly coincides with the millions of people Trudeau let in. 90% of patrons are new immigrants. Fact.
not sure how all that money announced for parks is going to help put food on the table in people’s homes..Children can’t eat parks.
War and famine, must be time for another Carney world photo op tour followed by a few weeks.vacation
Do food bank workers get fired publicly by Carney if they dont address guests in both Engliah and French?
Hold on folks, help is on the way. I was reading just today that Carney is spending $4BB to make more national parks and expand reserves, on a similar note Indigenous in Ontario have begrudgingly accepted a $9BB pay out (apparently it wasn’t enough).
Surely dropping $12BB in a few days must be helping hungry Canadians. How’s that USA trade deal coming along?
Just like soup kitchens in the 1930’s, food banks were supposed to be “temporary” when first opened in the 1980’s. Well here we are in 2026 and food banks are not only permanent necessities in an ongoing disastrous economy but the demand has increased so much that they can only give needy Canadians less food thanks to declining donations due to such a terrible inflationary Carney Liberal economy.
You voted for it. Now step up and claim your reward. Thank the 60+ / 25 and under.
You deserve everything you all get.
Eastern Canadians voted for higher carbon taxes, higher food packaging taxes, higher federal income taxes. Free Alberta!
What’s the demand if you remove non-citizens?
Remember according to our government food inflation is only some 7%. ; )
Check out the salaries of food bank directors one in my area has eight directors earning more than $100,000 its big buisness and abused at all levels.
How do you do this whole article and not include a single quote from a government official on what they’re doing to fix this
States have long time ago implemented food stumps for low income people. Canadian government only talks about how concerned they are about food insecurity, but doing nothing about it. Same with homeless people.
Does anyone remember when food banks were introduced as a temporary fix to help feed people now people are relying on them. Food banks can’t keep up with the demand and donations will get less as the price of food goes up. When is Carney and this Liberal government going to recognize that food prices need to come down and not be taxed