‘Record-breaking number’ of hungry people puts pressure on Mississauga’s biggest food bank

Lasting effects of the COVID-19 pandemic and an increase in the cost of living have combined to put even more pressure on Mississauga’s largest food bank to feed the hungry in Canada’s seventh-largest city, the head of the charitable organization says.

As such, The Mississauga Food Bank, which runs a network of more than 50 agencies across the city in efforts to address what food bank officials describe as a hunger crisis, is trying to adapt on the fly as best it can, says food bank CEO Meghan Nicholls.

“Change is a constant in life, and through the lasting effects of the pandemic and the increase in cost of living, we’ve had to adapt to ensure we’re able to help every neighbour who needs us,” Nicholls said in an online video to food bank supporters posted this week.

In the short video update, Nicholls said a new and much larger warehouse the food bank moved into this past spring has helped the organization, and by extension food bank users, in a significant way.

“That is helping us distribute more food across the city than ever before,” she said.

But, the CEO added, “…we continue to see a record-breaking number of hungry neighbours turning to us for help.”

Among the growing number of people in need are refugees who’ve fled Ukraine in the last 18 months, many of them settling in Mississauga.

Nicholls said that when people donate to the food bank, they’re helping food bank users such as Valeria, who along with her family fled Ukraine for Canada earlier this summer.

“When they arrived in Mississauga, they were staying in a temporary shelter without a full kitchen, but thanks to (donors) they were able to receive appropriate food that could be safely stored and prepared in their temporary home,” Nicholls said in the video update.

Looking forward to the fall, Nicholls said she and her team are busy preparing for the annual Thanksgiving Food Drive, which runs in September and October.

In the meantime, she encourages people interested in volunteering with the food bank to become a grocery store fundraising volunteer.

“This team plays an important role in our seasonal drives, collecting funds and food at local grocery stores across Mississauga,” said Nicholls.

Nicholls said earlier the food bank also desperately needs money and food to help “ensure that children and their families have fresh, healthy food all summer long.”

For more information or to volunteer, visit The Mississauga Food Bank website.