When Jacklin and her husband arrived in Canada from Italy, they were filled with hope and excitement for the future. They had saved diligently, believing their financial security would help them build a stable life in their new home. But their dreams were shattered when they became victims of immigration fraud, losing almost everything.
“We went from having money to buy a home and other necessities to desperately scrambling for a place to rent,” Jacklin recalls. As financial pressures mounted, life took another unexpected turn—she found out she was pregnant.
“I realized we couldn’t handle all the bills, the rent, and the baby’s needs. I couldn’t sustain my family on only my income as a translator. I don’t know how many times I was crying.”
Jacklin’s challenges didn’t stop there. After sharing the news of her pregnancy with her employer, she was unexpectedly terminated. With no income and little chance of finding work, her situation became even more dire. Unable to afford rent, Jacklin and her family now move from Airbnb to Airbnb, searching for safe shelter each night.
Just when hope seemed out of reach, a neighbour told Jacklin about Daily Bread Food Bank. She soon became one of the hundreds of thousands in our city turning to food banks for support. In 2024 alone, Daily Bread Food Bank served over 3.75 million client visits, a 26% increase over 2023 and more than 4.5 times pre-pandemic numbers.
Jacklin was grateful for the support the food bank offered. “Kate was born premature, so one of the things we needed most was baby formula, because she needed the extra nutrition to survive and grow stronger. The food bank helped us get that, which was life changing.”
Stories like Jacklin’s highlight the harsh realities facing newcomers. According to Who’s Hungry 2024, four in five new food bank clients are immigrants, navigating precarious jobs and inadequate income supports.
Despite everything, Jacklin finds relief in the fresh produce and meats she receives from the food bank. “It means everything to be able to provide nutritious meals for my daughter,” she says. She is so thankful for the support the food bank provided when her family needed it most. And her daughter, Kate, is doing great. She’s now a strong, healthy two-year-old who enjoys milk with cereal for breakfast.
With President Trump’s tariffs threatening to push even more people into poverty and hunger, your support is needed now more than ever. Donate today to help Daily Bread continue to provide emergency food access for families like Jacklin’s.
