Last year, there were over 3 million visits to Toronto food banks – a 50% increase compared to the year prior. And just this past February, we saw an unprecedented 301, 354 client visits to our member food banks – this is a 46% increase compared to the same period last year.
The food insecurity crisis in our city continues to impact tens of thousands of our neighbours, with one in ten Torontonians having to make use of emergency food services.
According to our 2023 Who’s Hungry report, food insecurity has a direct impact on the general health and well-being of food bank clients. In fact, among food bank clients who reported their health was poor, 70% had missed a meal to pay for something else.
As an organization committed to meeting the needs of our community, we are always looking for ways to ensure that those walking through our doors can reach for nutritious food to nourish themselves and their families.
In a move towards offering nutritionally focused service to help improve access to healthier food choices and help prevent nutrition-related health challenges, Daily Bread completed the Canada Food Guide Servings Project in alignment with public health recommendations, to guide how we procure, prioritize and distribute food.
As part of this project, five primary food group essentials were identified for a balanced diet, in accordance with Canada’s Food Guide. These groups include fresh fruits and vegetables, meats and meat alternatives, grains, and dairy – and our goal has been to prioritize these food groups for the food selections clients visiting a Daily Bread food bank can choose from.
Thanks in part to the generous food donations from industry partners as well as local farms through our Farm to Food Bank program, we are able to offer our clients a variety of fresh, seasonal fruits and vegetables, like tomatoes, carrots, and squash. And did you know that 70% of the food we provide is fresh? In addition, these incredible donations allow us to put our purchasing power towards those highly requested, nutrient-dense and protein-rich foods, such as meats (including halal), fish, and dairy.
At Daily Bread Food Bank, our Rights-Based approach to food focuses on providing dignified, low-barrier access to anyone who walks through our doors. We know that families relying on our service want to be able to reach for nutritious and culturally appropriate foods for themselves and their families.
We are deeply grateful to our incredible partners, donors and supporters for working with us to ensure that families in need of food during the most difficult times, have a place to turn for support.
If you would like to support our vision to end hunger, please donate today.
