Thanksgiving highlights crisis as Toronto food bank expects 4M visits

Hundreds joined the Daily Bread Food Bank this Thanksgiving to give back, as food insecurity visits are set to surpass four million in Toronto this year.

As food insecurity continues to soar this Thanksgiving, many families across Toronto have decided not just to feast themselves, but to help others enjoy a warm meal too.

Hundreds of volunteers gathered at Toronto’s Daily Bread Food Bank on Saturday to both give thanks and give back to the community.

“No one should be forced to choose between paying rent and putting food on the table, yet nearly one in five food bank clients are spending all of their income on housing,” said Neil Hetherington, CEO of the food bank.

“This Thanksgiving, we have an opportunity to show what’s possible when the community comes together.”

The event comes as food bank visits in Toronto are expected to surpass four million this year, an all-time high and nearly five times higher than before the COVID-19 pandemic.

In comparison, last year, food banks across the city saw 3.75 million visits.

“After paying rent and utilities, clients are left with a median of just $7.78 per person per day for food and other essentials, forcing many to turn to food banks to get by,” the Daily Bread Food Bank said in a release.

Despite the tough numbers, there was a sense of hope at the food sorting event, where over 44,000 pounds of food were sorted in one day.