Food Bank Usage in Canada: Huge Increase, Need Volunteers and Donations
Here at Junk It®, we have a very large social media audience and wanted to bring awareness to this important issue. According to the Canadian Food Bank Network, one in nine Canadians struggles with hunger. People have different reasons for not having enough food. Some can’t afford to buy nutritious food or don’t have time to cook. Others may live in remote areas that don’t have grocery stores that sell affordable fresh produce or can’t get transportation where they can buy affordable fresh produce. The fact is, hunger is on the rise in Canada. In response to this need, food banks and other charities are growing their services as demand increases. Volunteers and donors are essential to keeping these charitable organizations running smoothly and feeding those who need it most. Read on for more information about how you can help fight hunger by volunteering your time, donating funds or goods, and becoming a member of a food bank organization in your area.
What is a Food Bank?
Food banks are non-profit organizations that distribute food to people who need it. These organizations focus on collecting, storing, and distributing food to people who need help so they can have enough to eat. Food banks typically collect money, food, and other goods from donors, and then distribute them to people in need. In Canada, there are over 700 food banks that serve about 1 in 10 people who need food assistance. People who run food banks are volunteers. They’re often people from the community who want to help others but can’t donate money because they don’t make enough. Or they’re people who want to make a lifestyle change and have been inspired by the work of other volunteers in the food banking industry.
How can volunteering help fight hunger?
Food banks are an important part of the Canadian food assistance system. To operate efficiently and effectively, these organizations need all the help they can get. Volunteering, whether in a warehouse or with administrative duties, helps food banks save money. This allows food banks to stretch their budgets further, so they can collect and distribute more food. Food banks need volunteers throughout the year, but there are certain times when organizations are especially busy. During the holiday season, many food banks collect donations of canned goods and groceries to prepare meals for people in their communities. And, the month before school starts, food banks collect back-to-school supplies for children living in poverty. Other times throughout the year when food banks need extra help include planting and harvesting seasons, and the last few days before a big storm when people may lose their fresh produce in the midst of power outages.
How do you donate to a food bank?
While you can’t write a single check and have it cover all of your donation needs, there are many ways you can support food banks. You can donate food, money, or time. You can also get your kids involved by creating a garden and donating the produce. Food donations are a staple of food banks. Food banks rely on donations for about half of their supplies. The best foods to donate are canned food, dried grains, and nutritional bars. You can also donate fresh produce, but most food banks can’t store and distribute it because of the short shelf life. Be sure to check with your local food bank before dropping off donations. Some food banks may not be able to accept certain types of food.
Donate Food
The most important item to donate is food. Food banks across Canada are always looking for fresh food to distribute. Good fresh food to donate includes canned goods, fresh dairy products, fresh produce (especially fruits and vegetables with no pesticides), and frozen meats. Food banks can’t accept all types of food, but they do collect basic staples such as canned food, cereal, and rice. They also accept fresh produce, dairy products, frozen meat, and baked goods. Some food banks will even accept fresh fish, but they can’t distribute perishable items.
Donate Money
Many people want to donate food but don’t have time to do so. If that’s the case for you, you can still help by donating money to food banks. Many food banks operate with very little government funding. They need the support of donors to keep their lights on and provide food to those in need. There’s no one best way to donate money. You can give online, by mail, or in person at a food bank’s office. Food banks across Canada accept two types of financial donations: cash donations and stocks. If you want to donate stocks, you’ll need to talk to a financial advisor. Food banks also accept money through online crowdfunding campaigns. If you want to raise money for a food bank, you can create a campaign on a site like GoFundMe.
Commit to being a long-term donor
If you don’t have the time or resources to donate food or money to your local food bank, you can always commit to being a long-term donor. This means you’ll make a single donation or set up a recurring donation to the same food bank on a regular basis. You can commit to being a long-term donor by setting up an automatic withdrawal or a monthly donation to your food bank. You can also make a one-time donation and write “for regular donation” on the cheque. Many food banks accept donations through cheques or online payments. Be sure to check with your local food bank before making a financial donation.
Help by becoming a member of a food bank organization
If you want to get even more involved, you can join the Canadian Food Bank Network. All you have to do is sign up for a membership, and you’ll receive a free t-shirt, and a food bank membership card, and you’ll be helping fight hunger in all provinces across Canada. The benefits of being a food bank member include: – Discounts on food and travel – Exclusive invitations to food bank events – Free food bank services, such as grocery delivery – And much more By joining, you’ll not only help food banks across Canada collect donations and provide food to people in need, but you’ll also get great benefits.