Hot off the press last week, Food Banks Canada’s annual HungerCount Report paints a grim picture: hunger is reaching all time highs, and food aid providers are struggling to keep up with ballooning demand.



At Mazon, we found these trends troubling but not surprising. Throughout 2023, the sheer volume of organizations requesting Mazon's support raised red flags about the state of food security in Canada.

Despite the hard work of front line programs, rising food insecurity is outpacing the support that our sector

can provide.

But things are even worse than we feared:

1 in 5 Canadians now live in a food insecure household. Driven by soaring food, housing, fuel, and transportation costs, families across the country are struggling to put dinner on the table – and vulnerable groups are being hit hardest.

These trends have persisted despite historically high employment rates. Because, increasingly, having a job doesn’t guarantee food security.

When job markets and charities are no match for inflation and stagnant wages, we know that our threadbare social safety net is at risk.

This rising food bank use is a symptom of larger structural challenges - challenges that food banks themselves are not designed to solve. More food and fundraising helps those in need, but it will not solve this crisis.

That’s why Mazon is invested in the important work of battling hunger in the present, while also looking to the future for meaningful political solutions – and we believe our Jewish community has a role in this fight. Together, we can stand shoulder to shoulder beside food insecure Canadians and build a future where no one goes hungry.