Research has shown that food insecurity impacts physical and mental health related issues (Hawkins & Roshanafshar, 2015). However, COVID-19 has put food bank supply in a critical state, leaving more and more individuals prone to food insecurity. Many people are afraid to leave their home to participate in community work, and many others are in less of a financial position to give due to job loss from COVID-19.
From 2018 to 2019, Food Banks Canada reported an increase of 1.6 million pounds of food being required to be served (Food Banks Canada, 2019). Even though the demand for food banks is increasing, many food insecure individuals do not use these resources. This can occur for a wide variety of reasons, including but not limited to, lack of access, embarrassment or low food bank supply. This is more reason to donate to food banks and shelters so they are able to provide more resources to those individuals they serve.
Food insecurity impacts 8.3% of Canadians with 70% of those individuals being on social assistance. Helping replenish food banks as much as possible and making it appealing to those who need it is critical in the success of helping those in need through the reliance of food banks.
Image Credits:
Feature Image: Raphael Maksian, on Unsplash, Creative Commons
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