More Canadians than ever are turning to food banks, and the trend is being felt in Barrie.
A report from Food Banks Canada shows food banks across the country recorded more than 2.35 million visits in March 2026, setting another national record and highlighting the growing strain facing households grappling with rising living costs.
The numbers echo what local organizations are seeing.
Last month, the Barrie Food Bank recorded 7,683 visits, up two per cent from the same month a year earlier. Those visits included 2,583 children and 395 seniors. Another 280 people accessed the food bank for the first time.
National demand continues to grow
Food Banks Canada's latest HungerCount report found 2,355,000 visits were made to food banks across the country in March, an increase of 8.7 per cent from the March 2025 record of more than two million visits.
The organization says nearly 10 million Canadians are experiencing food insecurity as the cost-of-living crisis continues to put pressure on household budgets.
Children accounted for nearly 776,000 food bank visits, representing more than one-third of all visits recorded during the month.
Food Banks Canada CEO Kirstin Beardsley said many families are finding it impossible to keep up with essential expenses.
“People are running out of options” as they try to balance expenses such as rent with the rising cost of groceries, Beardsley said.
Rising costs continue to squeeze household budgets
According to the report, food prices have increased by about 30 per cent since 2021. Housing costs have risen by 28 per cent, while transportation costs are up roughly 24 per cent.
The growing financial pressure is affecting not only people traditionally considered vulnerable, but also many who are employed.
“A lot of folks who used to give to food banks are now finding themselves in need of those services," Beardsley said.
“A job is not enough to ensure that you are not in need of a food bank anymore," she added. "There’s no other room in their budget to do anything.”
The report notes that one in five food banks across Canada is running out of food before it can meet the needs of everyone seeking assistance.
Calls for additional support
While Beardsley described the federal government's new Canada Groceries and Essential Benefit as a positive step, she said it falls short of addressing the challenges facing communities across the country, particularly in northern regions where grocery costs are often significantly higher due to transportation expenses.
The report calls for several policy measures, including doubling the Canada Workers Benefit for low-income Canadians, expanding food sovereignty initiatives in the North, and investing up to $500 million in food bank infrastructure to help organizations keep pace with demand.
For communities like Barrie, where thousands continue to rely on food bank services each month, the national findings underscore a challenge that local agencies see every day.
