Recent data has shown that there is an unprecedented increase in the number of visits to food banks in Toronto, with nearly a million additional visits recorded this year compared to last year. This increase reflects the ongoing trend in the rising demand for food assistance, which began with the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic and continues to this day.

The Daily Bread and North York Harvest food banks released their annual report titled “Who’s Hungry” on Tuesday, which provides a comprehensive analysis of the increasing rates of food insecurity in the city.

The report indicated that the economic crisis and rising living costs are among the key factors driving individuals and families to increasingly rely on food banks to meet their basic needs.

The report also noted that the impact of the pandemic has had long-lasting repercussions on the economic situation of many, leading to an increase in the number of those in need of food assistance, which raises concerns among civil society organizations working to support the most vulnerable populations.

This situation calls for urgent action from the government and relevant parties to support affected families and ensure that everyone's basic needs are met.