Food Banks Canada facts for kids
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| Founded | 1987 |
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| Location | |
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CEO
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Christopher Hatch |
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Revenue
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$36,171,087 (2017) |
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Formerly called
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Canadian Association of Food Banks |
Food Banks Canada is a helpful organization in Canada. It used to be called the Canadian Association of Food Banks. This group helps connect and support food banks all over the country.
It started in 1987. Today, Food Banks Canada works with 10 groups in different provinces. It also supports over 500 local food banks. Their main goal is to make sure people have food when they need it. They also work on finding ways to stop hunger in Canada for good. Food Banks Canada runs programs like Hunger Awareness Week. They also publish a report called HungerCount. This report shares information about how many people use food banks. They even have a program to teach food banks how to handle food safely.
In 2008, the Canadian Association of Food Banks changed its name. It became "Food Banks Canada."
Contents
Understanding Food Banks Canada
How Food Banks Started in Canada
The very first food bank in Canada opened in 1981. It was in the city of Edmonton, Alberta. People saw a need to help others get food. So, they created places where food could be shared.
In 1987, the different food banks across Canada decided to work together. They formed the Canadian Association of Food Banks. This group was created to speak for all food banks. It helped them work as one big team.
Today, there are more than 700 food banks in Canada. There are also about 3,000 other food programs. These programs all help people get the food they need.
Who Uses Food Banks?
In 2008, the HungerCount report shared some important facts. It showed that about 704,414 people used a food bank each month. This report helps us understand who needs help.
Here are some facts from the 2008 report:
- About 37% of the people helped were children under 18 years old.
- Half of the families who got help had at least one child.
- For 20% of families, someone in the house was working.
- About 13% of people were getting help for a disability.
- Half of the people were getting social assistance.
- In March 2008, food banks served over 3 million meals.
- Volunteers gave about 440,000 hours of their time in March 2008.
What Food Banks Canada Does
Food Banks Canada does many important things. One main activity is sharing food. They have a program called the National Food Sharing System. This system helps move food to where it's needed most.
They also create the annual HungerCount report. This report looks at how food banks are used across Canada. It helps everyone understand the problem of hunger. Another important event is Hunger Awareness Week. This week helps teach people about food banks. It also highlights the people who use their services.
Recognizing Food Bank Workers
In May 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic in Canada, Food Banks Canada did something special. They worked with Cheerios cereal. Together, they made a short commercial. This commercial was a tribute to all the hard-working food bank staff. It thanked them for their efforts during a difficult time.
Food Banks Canada Members
Food Banks Canada works with many groups. Its members include 10 Provincial Associations. These are groups that help food banks in different provinces. They also work with over 500 local food banks.
The 10 Provincial Associations are:
- Food Banks British Columbia
- Food Banks Alberta
- Food Banks of Saskatchewan Corporation
- Manitoba Association of Food Banks
- Ontario Association of Food Banks (OAFB)
- Banques Alimentaires Québec
- Food Depot Alimentaire (New Brunswick)
- FEED NOVA SCOTIA
- P.E.I. Association of Food Banks
- Community Food Sharing Association of Newfoundland & Labrador
See also
