Help Provide Healthy Food to our Neighbours in Need

Last year when we began our Giving Tuesday Special Appeal, it was reported more than 2.3 million people across Ontario could not access nutritious food regularly, including one in every five children. A recent report from Feed Ontario shows the numbers are still climbing. According to Feed Ontario and various regional food bank reports, there has been an increase of 25% of people facing food insecurity and accessing food banks. Food Banks Canada says 1 in 5 of those people are employed and one-third are children.

Feed Ontario's report continues by highlighting the impact of this increased usage. Food banks were meant to be in place as temporary measures for families or the few extras needed to support nutrition and complete a meal.

Food banks are now seeing increased use by people who are forced to choose to pay for a roof over their head or groceries making the demand larger than the intended purposes of these food banks. 69% of food banks at this time are worried about having enough food to meet the needs of their visitors as we approach this year's end.

Churches throughout our diocese have been responding to this growing need by hosting and stocking community fridges, running food banks and community meal programs, cultivating community gardens, and delivering prepared meal boxes to those most in need in our communities.

"Christians have always responded in love and compassion to the world around us—it's who we are and how we're called by God," says Bishop Susan Bell. "So many of our parishes are responding to the food security concerns within their communities, striving to uphold the dignity of every human being in extraordinary ways by ensuring everyone has access to food, care, and support."

Year-over-year increases in grocery prices of 10 percent or more are forcing individuals and families to turn to help for the first time, overwhelming an already stretched social safety net. Those already struggling are being pushed even further into poverty and we know that food insecurity disproportionally impacts those who are already vulnerable to other risk factors.

Our churches need your help. Due to rising grocery costs, the need is greater than ever, and it is more expensive for churches to provide nutritious and healthy food to our neighbours in need.

Last year, thanks to a generous donor who matched up to $10,000 in donations we raised $20,000 in donations, meaning your contributions had double the impact!

With the continued increasing need to provide food security in Ontario, our generous donor has once again agreed to match up to $10,000 to support this Giving Tuesday Initiative.

All funds will go directly to our parishes, missions, and affiliated food security agencies to help meet the overwhelming need for support we are seeing across the diocese.

Food is not just about nutrition; it is also about ensuring the dignity of every human being. It is also a significant way to bring togetherness and to celebrate community. Our parishes are providing essential services to help people survive and thrive in body, mind, and spirit. Will you help them?