Demand for food aid is increasing in Canada

Demand for food aid is increasing in Canada

More and more Canadians are turning to community-based organizations for food, yet these organizations lack the resources to meet demand.

According to a new survey conducted by Ipsos for Deuxième Récolte, 89% of surveyed agencies have seen an increase in demand for food aid over the past year.

One-third of organizations, 33%, currently have a waiting list. And 35% say they had to turn people away due to lack of food or resources.

For organizations with a waiting list, the average number of people on the waiting list is about 878. For those who had to refuse assistance, the average is 269 people.

The survey also notes that part of the solution may be found in foods already available. On average, 36% of the food received by participating organizations comes from Deuxième Récolte. The vast majority say this contribution provides them with more food and savings.

The survey also found that the food aid network is well beyond traditional food banks. Almost half of the organizations surveyed do not receive any support from federal, provincial or regional food bank networks.

Deuxième Récolte therefore reminds us of the importance of recovering surplus food that is still fit for consumption in order to redistribute it to organizations that help people in need.

The survey was conducted from May 29th to July 13th, 2026 with 1,610 community organizations and a response rate of 65%.