Hunger Action Month comes every September, but this year it’s infused with a heightened sense of urgency. Food bank use has surged to new highs in Toronto. Before the pandemic, our network of food programs would see about 65,000 client visits per month, but since February 2024 we’ve exceeded 300,000 with every flip of the calendar. One in ten Torontonians are now turning to food banks to access the food they need.
When we face numbers like these, we have two options: We can despair at the current trajectory, or we can choose to change it.
You have the power to help move the needle. This Hunger Action Month, here are seven actions you can take to make a difference right now:
For your next celebration, ask your friends and family to forgo buying presents and instead donate that money to put food on empty tables. Rally your coworkers in a fundraising competition or kick off a donations campaign for your school or congregation. Our online platform makes it easy to start personal, workplace, community or school fundraisers.
We know that boosting income supports for Canadians with disabilities is a guaranteed way to lower food bank visits — one in three Toronto food bank clients reported having a disability (Who’s Hungry 2023). That’s why we are calling on the government to strengthen the Canada Disability Benefit and empower all those with disabilities to live a life of dignity. Add your voice to our call! It’s easy to email this message to policymakers through our online form.
We’re looking for volunteers ages 11+ for the Purolator Red Bag campaign on two upcoming Saturdays: September 14 and September 21, 9:30am – 2:00pm each day. Volunteers will be dropping off empty red bags or picking up bags filled with food donations in the following neighbourhoods: Roncesvalles, the Annex, Danforth/Riverdale, East York, Broadview, Corso Italia, Davisville Village, Dufferin Grove, Leaside, or St. Clair West. Register for your location and shift at our volunteer registration hub.
If you have time to give beyond September, many of our network’s member food banks run solely on volunteer power. Contact your local food bank to see what you can do to help, or register your interest to volunteer at Daily Bread.
Read our latest Who’s Hungry report to understand the current state of food insecurity in Toronto. Watch our videos to learn about the root cause of food insecurity and what we can do to solve it. When you’re done, share these resources with your networks to spread the word.
Collect non-perishable food items from your friends, families, neighbours or coworkers and drop them off at your local fire hall to help keep local food bank shelves stocked. Bonus: If you’re a high school student in need of volunteer hours, you can earn one hour for every 25 items collected if you register your drive with us and let us know you’re a student earning hours. Find out more.
Give what you can in a one-time donation or become a monthly donor to help provide nutritious food all year.
Multiply the impact of your action exponentially by posting about it on social media with the hashtag #HungerActionMonth. You never know who in your network will be inspired to roll up their sleeves, too! Tag us on Instagram, Facebook, X or LinkedIn so we can amplify your voice.
Thank you so much for your help during Hunger Action Month. Supporters like you are the only reason we’re able to meet Toronto’s need while we advocate for policy solutions that will end hunger in the future.
