As shoppers take advantage of Black Friday and Cyber Monday bargains, Food Banks Canada is urging Canadians to pause and reflect on the growing number of people across the country who cannot afford basic necessities. On Giving Tuesday, the organization is appealing for support as Ontario records its highest-ever demand for emergency food assistance.
A new report released Dec. 1 by Feed Ontario shows that more than one million Ontarians accessed a food bank between April 2024 and March 2025 — a staggering milestone that reflects the worsening affordability crisis. Nationally, Food Banks Canada reported 2.2 million monthly visits to food banks this year, double the number recorded in 2019.
Erin Filey-Wronecki, chief development and partnerships officer for Food Banks Canada, said the holiday season remains critical for fundraising, noting that nearly half of annual donations are made between November and December. She described Giving Tuesday as a moment for Canadians to regroup after the shopping frenzy and think about the families who cannot enjoy the simple holiday joys many take for granted.
Adding to the concern is the growing number of employed Canadians relying on food banks. Almost 20 per cent of food bank users list employment as their main source of income, a trend driven largely by unaffordable rents that consume the bulk of monthly wages. The report shows that 76 per cent of food bank visitors are renters, 61 per cent rely on social assistance, and 29 per cent of all clients are children. Filey-Wronecki noted that two-thirds of a typical food bank client’s income now goes toward housing, leaving little room for groceries or other essentials.
With usage climbing and more Canadians struggling at month’s end to choose between rent and meals, Food Banks Canada fears the crisis will deepen further in 2026. The organization is urging the federal government to introduce targeted financial support, including an essentials benefit or a GST rebate boost to help low-income households manage rising living costs. It is also calling for enhancements to the Canada Disability Benefit and long-term actions such as expanding affordable housing and modernizing Canada’s employment insurance system, which Filey-Wronecki described as outdated and ill-suited to today’s gig economy.
Compounding the challenge this holiday season were recent Canada Post disruptions, which delayed the delivery of fundraising flyers many charities rely on to solicit donations. Although the strike has been suspended, the interruption created setbacks that organizations will need months to overcome.
To inspire giving, Food Banks Canada and Skip have continued their annual partnership, now in its sixth year. Toronto residents can schedule doorstep pickups of non-perishable food donations through givewithskip.ca, and Skip will contribute a $100 donation to the Daily Bread Food Bank for every pickup — giving donors a chance to make twice the impact this Giving Tuesday.