Daily Bread Food Bank releases report – Hunger Lives Here: Risks and Challenges Faced by Food Bank Clients During COVID-19
Posted: August 10, 2020
Categories: GoodFoodBites
The Daily Bread Food Bank has released a new report, Hunger Lives Here: Risks and Challenges Faced by Food Bank Clients During COVID-19, providing quantitative and qualitative data about the experience of hunger and poverty in Toronto during COVID-19.
Through 220 interviews with food bank clients, they collected demographic data as well as information about the day-to-day experience of living with hunger during the pandemic, and the future challenges food bank clients will face.
“Based on phone surveys with over 220 food bank clients in May and June 2020 and an analysis of food bank client intake data, the report demonstrates that COVID-19 has led to increased reliance on food banks,” the executive summary shares. “The rate of new clients accessing food banks has tripled since the pandemic began. Among new clients, 76% report that they began accessing food banks as a result of COVID-19 and the associated economic downturn.”
Neil Hetherington, CEO of Daily Bread Food Bank, shares in the foreword:
“We know that those who are coming to food banks need systemic change, just as much as the nourishment they receive each visit. COVID-19 has demonstrated that when there is political will, significant policy change can occur. There has never been a better time to invest in community. It is my hope that this crisis results in the recognition and realization of every person’s right to food.”
The report offers recommendations for all levels of government to prioritize poverty reduction in economic recovery.
Access the report online here.