Food Banks Canada (formerly the Canadian Association of

Food Banks A food bank is a non-profit, charitable organization that distributes food to those who have difficulty purchasing enough to avoid hunger, usually through intermediaries like food pantries and soup kitchens. Some food banks distribute food direc ...

) is a charitable organization representing the food bank community across

Canada Canada is a country in North America. Its ten provinces and three territories extend from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean and northward into the Arctic Ocean, covering over , making it the world's second-largest country by tot ...

. Founded in 1987, Food Banks Canada’s network is made up of 10 Provincial Associations and over 500 local food banks. The organization’s mission is to "enable an effective food bank community that addresses the short term need for food and longer term solutions to reduce hunger in Canada". It operates a number of programs such as the Hunger Awareness Week, HungerCount, a research report on food bank use in Canada, and a Safe Food Handling program for food banks. In 2008, the Canadian Association of Food Banks changed its name to "Food Banks Canada"."Our Story". Food Banks Canada. http://www.foodbankscanada.ca/main2.cfm?id=1071853F-B6A7-8AA0-6E407E9D8CF7DF91 Retrieved 8 September 2009

History

The first food bank in Canada opened its doors in 1981 in the city of

Edmonton, Alberta Edmonton ( ) is the capital city of the Canadian province of Alberta. Edmonton is situated on the North Saskatchewan River and is the centre of the Edmonton Metropolitan Region, which is surrounded by Alberta's central region. The city anch ...

. In 1987, the Canadian food bank community created the Canadian Association of Food Banks to represent food banks nationally. There are now over 700 food banks and 3,000 food programs available in Canada. In 2008, HungerCount reported that on average, 704,414 individuals used a food bank per month. Other HungerCount 2008 numbers include: *37% of those assisted are children under the age of 18 *50% of assisted households have at least one child *For 20% of assisted households, primary source of income is current or recent employment *Approximately 13% are receiving provincial disability

income support Income Support is an income-related benefit in the United Kingdom for some people who are on a low income, but have a reason for not actively seeking work. Claimants of Income Support may be entitled to certain other benefits, for example, Housin ...

*50% are receiving social assistance *In March 2008, food banks served 3,091,777 meals in 4324234 *In March 2008, volunteers gave 440,000 hours of their time to assist food banks

Activities

Some of Food Banks Canada's activities include food distribution through the National Food Sharing System, the annual HungerCount research report on national and provincial food bank use in Canada, and Hunger Awareness Week to promote the work of food banks and the individuals using their services.

Murray the Brave

In May 2020 during the

COVID-19 pandemic in Canada The COVID-19 pandemic in Canada is part of the ongoing worldwide pandemic of coronavirus disease 2019 (). It is caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (). Most cases over the course of the pandemic have been in Ontario, Que ...

it partnered with

Cheerios Cheerios is a brand of cereal manufactured by General Mills in the United States, consisting of pulverized oats in the shape of a solid torus. In some countries, including the United Kingdom, Cheerios is marketed by Cereal Partners under the ...

to do a tribute to food bank workers in a thirty-second commercial.

Members

Food Banks Canada’s membership includes 10 Provincial Associations and over 500 local food banks. The 10 Provincial Associations are: *Food Banks

British Columbia British Columbia (commonly abbreviated as BC) is the westernmost province of Canada, situated between the Pacific Ocean and the Rocky Mountains. It has a diverse geography, with rugged landscapes that include rocky coastlines, sandy beaches, ...

*Food Banks

Alberta Alberta ( ) is one of the thirteen provinces and territories of Canada. It is part of Western Canada and is one of the three prairie provinces. Alberta is bordered by British Columbia to the west, Saskatchewan to the east, the Northwest Ter ...

*Food Banks of Saskatchewan Corporation *Manitoba Association of Food Banks *

Ontario Ontario ( ; ) is one of the thirteen provinces and territories of Canada.Ontario is located in the geographic eastern half of Canada, but it has historically and politically been considered to be part of Central Canada. Located in Central C ...

Association of Food Banks ( OAFB) *Banques Alimentaires Québec *New Brunswick Association of Food Banks (NBAFB) *FEED NOVA SCOTIA *P.E.I. Association of Food Banks *Community Food Sharing Association of Newfoundland & Labrador

References

External links