Earlier this week I dropped in to the Stittsville Food Bank to check in with Theresa Qadri, the organization’s Chair. She says that December is always their busiest time of year, with donations ramping up as the need continues to grow. They expect to serve well over 400 families leading up to the holidays, providing basic food and personal hygiene items as well as food hampers and gifts to people in need.
Every trip to the grocery store is a reminder that food prices are continuing to rise. A recent report from Ottawa Public Health revealed some staggering data about food insecurity for local families.
The Ottawa Public Health 2025 Nutritious Food Basket Survey found that:
- 25.7% of Ottawa households experienced food insecurity in 2024.
- That number is trending upwards. It was at 15.3% in 2019.
- Children, as well as Black and Indigenous communities, are disproportionately affected by food insecurity.
- Food costs have increased in recent years, rising from $11,399/year in 2018 to $14,909/year in 2024 for a family of four.
- Inadequate and/or unstable income is the root cause of food insecurity. For example, households relying on Ontario Works (OW) or minimum wage cannot meet their basic needs when housing costs are factored in. There is not enough money left.
- The provincial allowances for both infant formula and nutritional support during pregnancy and breastfeeding are grossly inadequate compared to current market prices.
(Food insecurity refers to inadequate or insecure access to food due to financial constraints, ranging from concerns about running out of food to skipping meals.)
Some examples, after accounting for typical food and housing costs:
- A family of four in Ottawa making the median household income would have about $488/month left over for all other expenses.
- A single adult receiving Ontario Disability Support Program payments would be overspending by about $42 each month.
- A single person making minimum wage would have about $18 left over each month for all other expenses.
These factors are driving more and more people to local food banks, even people who are employed full-time. The Ottawa Food Bank’s 2025 Hunger Report shows a 101% increase in visits to the food bank since 2019.
The report also notes: “Food banks were created as a temporary response to crisis and have since become a permanent part of the social safety net. For more than 40 years, food banks in Ottawa and across Canada have provided emergency support while food insecurity rates continue to rise. While we can’t replace livable wages, strong income supports, deeply affordable housing, and decent work, the network works every day to fill the gaps left by broken systems and advocate for lasting policy solutions that will end food insecurity.”
Here’s how you can help:
- Donate money. Most food banks have an online option, including the Stittsville Food Bank.
- Donate food. Drop off a non-perishable food item at your local grocery store, or directly to a food bank.
- Mark your calendar for December 13, when OC Transpo and the Stittsville Food Bank will host their annual “Fill the Bus” campaign at Brown’s Independent and No Frills.
- Write to your MP and MPP and express your support for income-based policies, such as adequate social assistance rates, a living minimum wage, and a guaranteed basic income program, to effectively address the systemic reasons behind food insecurity. Charitable food programs should not be seen as a permanent solution.
The Stittsville Food Bank is powered entirely by volunteers and relies on the generosity of our community. They work tirelessly to make sure no one in our community goes hungry, but the need is constant. A huge THANK YOU to all of the volunteers who work so hard to help our community.