Giving Tuesday: Here’s How Communities Can Combat Food Insecurity In Canada

As Giving Tuesday approaches, the spotlight is on the urgent need for charitable support in Canada. With food bank visits soaring to over 2 million per month—a staggering 90% increase since before the pandemic—Food Banks Canada is calling for action. We asked Erin Filey-Wronecki, Chief Partnerships Officer, Food Banks Canada, how community efforts, even small ones, can make a massive impact this season. —Noa Nichol

The Giving Report highlights the link between social circles and charitable giving. How can individuals with smaller networks still make a meaningful impact on Giving Tuesday?

Local support and community connection is what keeps food banks operating and helping – even in the face of record-breaking visits and need. Every act of kindness adds up, so even if you can only manage a small donation this year, you can double your impact by donating on Giving Tuesday because our generous partner Skip will match all donations made on December 3^rd up to $100,000. For those are able to give the gift of their time, we encourage you to reach out to your local food bank to see how you can volunteer, which is a very rewarding way to deepen your own community connections and relationships, while helping others. Learn more about all the ways you can support Food Banks Canada at www.foodbankscanada.ca

With food bank visits reaching over 2 million monthly and 30% of food banks running out of food, what strategies is Food Banks Canada implementing to address this unprecedented demand?

Food Banks Canada is the leader in addressing food insecurity. Our mission is to provide national leadership to relieve hunger today and prevent hunger tomorrow in collaboration with the food bank network from coast to coast to coast. Since 2010, Food Banks Canada has shared over $829 million in food supports and over $245 million in funding to help maximize collective impact and strengthen local capacity- while, backed by leading research, advocating for meaningful actions from government to count hunger and its root causes. Most recently, we have been calling for the  government to introduce a Grocery and Essentials Benefit to help people living on low-incomes afford groceries and essentials. You can join the call for change, by signing our online petition and by giving what you can this Giving Tuesday.

December is critical for food banks, with 60% of annual individual donations coming during this time. What role does Giving Tuesday play in meeting annual fundraising goals, and how can Canadians maximize their contributions?

Giving Tuesday is a critical day for food banks, because it kicks off our December giving season. December is one of the most important times of the year for individual donations, which helps food banks be prepared for the Winter months, when food bank visits historically are at their peak. This year, Canada reached a bleak milestone of over 2 million food bank visits a month – and 700,000 of those are children, so we appreciate every act of generosity, no matter how small, this season.

For those who can’t afford to donate financially, what are some impactful ways they can support food banks and advocate for change?

Join with us in the call for change by visiting www.foodbankscanada.ca to learn about our policy recommendations – and tell your government MP and MPP that you support Food Banks Canada’s poverty reduction recommendations. If you belong to a team, community group or church, consider organizing a food drive – and if you want to help in a hands-on way, use our find a food bank tool reach out to your local food bank to find out how you can volunteer to help!

Food Banks Canada’s petition for a Grocery and Essentials Benefit has garnered significant support. How could this policy change alleviate food insecurity for Canadians in need?

For the first time in history, a growing number of food banks visits are by people who are employed but who just can’t afford rent, utilities, essentials and groceries. The Grocery and Essentials Benefit is an easy to implement and practical way to help people living on low incomes be better able to afford essentials and groceries. With 46% of Canadians reporting they are living paycheque to paycheque – and 53% worrying that they can’t feed their family, it’s time to take action.

Can you share more about the partnerships Food Banks Canada has developed for Giving Tuesday, particularly the matching donation opportunities, and how they help amplify the impact of individual contributions?

We’re so grateful to all the amazing companies that support us year-round as Food Banks Canada operates on private donations. On Giving Tuesday, we’re excited that Skip is matching all individual donations up to $100,000, so that means that when you donate $5, $10 or $50 Skip will match your donation and turn that into $10, $20 or $100 for Canada’s food banks. Make your online Giving Tuesday donations quickly, securely and easily at www.foodbankscanada.ca