Lethbridge food bank demand increasing as nationwide food bank use doubles since 2019

Food Banks Canada's HungerCount report shows more Canadians than ever are turning to food banks, and they're often working people and families.

Food Banks Canada’s annual HungerCount report shows more Canadians than ever are turning to food banks.

Increasingly, it’s working people and families who are accessing food banks.

In the past year, an average of almost 2.2 million people accessed a food bank every month in Canada.

That’s double the amount from just six years ago.

“The key highlight is, unfortunately, the food bank numbers are growing relentlessly in the wrong direction,” said Richard Matern, Food Banks Canada director of research.

Working Canadians now make up a sizeable portion of regular food bank users.

Almost one in five food bank clients report employment as their main source of income.

Food Banks Canada says this shows the affordability crisis isn’t getting any better.

“That’s why we’re calling on the federal government to address these affordability issues. Affordability issues in particular affect the working poor,” Matern said.

It’s a similar story in Lethbridge.

The Lethbridge Food Bank is feeling the pinch of more people needing support.

So far this year, they’ve handed out almost 2,000 more bundles than last year.

“The need is increasing, and people are having to spend more of their money on housing, understandably, to put a roof over their family’s head. So food is next in line as far as how they’re spending their money,” said Valerie Lazicki, Lethbridge Food Bank executive director.

The upcoming holiday season is traditionally the busiest for food banks.

It also represents the time when food banks receive the most donations.

A strong donation campaign can ensure food banks start 2026 on the right foot.

“This is when most people start to think about the food banks—from Thanksgiving through Christmas,” said Danielle McIntyre, Lethbridge Interfaith Food Bank executive director.

“And so, we’re really excited about the season that’s ahead. A lot of people will step forward to help us out with volunteer opportunities and fundraisers, and of course, that opportunity to give to somebody in need over the holidays is really what it’s all about.”

This year, Alberta saw more than 210,000 food bank visits, up almost 22 per cent from the year before.