Food Bank CEO calls recent impact report numbers ‘deeply concerning’

That has been made clear in the Food Bank of Waterloo Region’s 2024 Community Impact report.

It shows that one in eight households in Waterloo Region have accessed a food hamper program in the last year. That’s up from one in 10 in 2023 and one in 14 in 2022.

The newest statistics equate to around 73,000 men, women and children turning to a food assistance program, a 25 per cent increase over the year before.

Looking even deeper, 11 per cent of households needing food assistance reported at least one member with a source of income. And, 30 percent of food bank users are either employed or on government assistance.

Food Bank, CEO, Kim Wilhelm told 570 NewsRadio that food banks alone can not solve the problem.

“We need real action at all levels of government to address the root causes of food insecurity. Whether that’s insuring social assistance programs are adequate, providing living wages or making housing more affordable.”

Wilhelm said the bright spot among all of this has been the community and the volunteers. She said they have a team of around 4,500 volunteers, including network partners, helping collect donations and organize their shelves as well as put together food hampers.

But she admits, it can be a struggle at times.

“We don’t have a very good outlook right now. But, what I can tell you is that the Food Bank of Waterloo Region will continue to feed those in need of food assistance while working with government partners to ensure we can provide better social support systems to those individuals, to hopefully bring that number down.”