Josephine Sindani香蕉视频直播檚 first memory of using a food bank is a happy one.

She was eight years old and still adjusting to the shock of an Ottawa winter after recently moving from Halifax, where she and her mom arrived in Canada from Sudan about two years earlier. One day she saw her pregnant mother approaching their home, trudging through snow and carrying a 香蕉视频直播渂ig bag of toys.香蕉视频直播�

香蕉视频直播淚t香蕉视频直播檚 such an ingrained image in my head, just because it was such an important time and she was able to get Christmas presents and a jacket for us and food,香蕉视频直播� said Sindani, now 34 and a mother herself.

Sindani said she, her mom and two younger brothers relied on food banks off-and-on for the next five years, until her mom finished her master香蕉视频直播檚 degree and began working steadily.

As an adult, Sindani would return to food banks several more times 香蕉视频直播� when she was a 20-year-old student in Toronto and newly pregnant; when pregnant with her second child in 2013 while launching her construction business; and most recently, in 2021 after the pandemic ground business opportunities to a halt.

Sindani teared up recalling the moment she realized her student loans were not enough to support herself and her unborn baby. She knew she should reach out for help, but feelings of shame were hard to overcome.

香蕉视频直播淚 know it very, very well, and it香蕉视频直播檚 diminishing for your psyche and just like, your energy,香蕉视频直播� said Sindani.

香蕉视频直播淚t feels like you香蕉视频直播檙e failing. That香蕉视频直播檚 what it is. It feels like you香蕉视频直播檙e failing. And you香蕉视频直播檙e not.香蕉视频直播�

New data from Food Banks Canada suggests more people than ever are facing this difficult decision.

Its annual survey of food bank use in Canada recorded more than two million visits in March 2024 香蕉视频直播� nearly double the monthly visits five years ago in March 2019, and six per cent above last year香蕉视频直播檚 record-breaking figure.

The study, released Monday, says rapid inflation, housing costs and insufficient social supports are driving new levels of poverty and food insecurity.

That includes outsized demand from renters, racialized groups, people with disabilities, newcomers to Canada and residents across the North, and a 香蕉视频直播渄eeply concerning香蕉视频直播� need among seniors and families with children.

Food Banks Canada CEO Kirstin Beardsley said food banks are being pushed to 香蕉视频直播渢he brink香蕉视频直播� and low-income Canadians need help immediately.

The report calls on governments to introduce measures that include rent assistance and a monthly payment to low-income groups to help off-set rent and food costs.

香蕉视频直播淗ungerCount 2024香蕉视频直播� says there were 2,059,636 visits to food banks across Canada in March 2024 香蕉视频直播� up six per cent from 2023 and 90 per cent from 2019.

It says one-third of food bank clients were children 香蕉视频直播� a trend that香蕉视频直播檚 held steady but in 2024 totalled nearly 700,000 monthly visits 香蕉视频直播� while nearly one-in-five clients, or 18 per cent, were employed. Nearly 70 per cent lived in market rent housing.

One urgent recommendation is 香蕉视频直播渁 groceries and essentials benefit,香蕉视频直播� which Beardsley said could be achieved by rejigging the existing quarterly GST credit that goes to low-income Canadians.

香蕉视频直播淏ut we香蕉视频直播檙e asking for it to be increased and made monthly so that it can be a more predictable payment to folks who are really in need,香蕉视频直播� said Beardsley.

香蕉视频直播淚t香蕉视频直播檚 really to offset those essential costs, the increases in rents that people are seeing, the increases in cost of essentials like food.香蕉视频直播�

Yesmil Pena, co-ordinator of a church-based food bank in north Toronto, said about 10 per cent of visitors to St. Philip Neri香蕉视频直播檚 Table are older adults, most of them women. High-demand items include baby food, diapers for children and diapers for adults.

香蕉视频直播淭hat is a part of the population that also needs to be taken care of,香蕉视频直播� she said of her oldest clients.

Pena said the food bank began in May 2021 with five clients per week, but steadily grew to serve 20, then 40, then 80 people per week. They now serve about 250 per week but see the occasional spike, such as at the end of 2023 when there were more than 300 visitors, she said.

Fellow volunteer Vanda Zanini said heavy demand often forces them to ration meat and protein, or offer alternatives.

香蕉视频直播淲e reserve the milk for the children but it香蕉视频直播檚 a very difficult thing to do, as you can well imagine. Everybody needs protein and dairy,香蕉视频直播� said Zanini.

香蕉视频直播淲e do the best we can.香蕉视频直播�

In 2019, HungerCount recorded 1,086,280 monthly visits. There was no report in 2020 and monthly visits rose by 17 per cent to 1,272,580 in 2021, by 15 per cent to 1,465,721 in 2022 and by 32 per cent to 1,935,911 in 2023.

Although interest rates have dropped and inflation is slowing, Beardsley said economic relief still depends on prices coming down and wages growing.

香蕉视频直播淧eople need money in their pockets today,香蕉视频直播� she said.

Sindani said she香蕉视频直播檚 on solid enough footing to no longer need a food bank but said there香蕉视频直播檚 no shame in using one. She said it香蕉视频直播檚 important to ask for help if struggling to afford necessities.

香蕉视频直播淭here香蕉视频直播檝e been times where I香蕉视频直播檓 just like, in my head (thinking), 香蕉视频直播業 don香蕉视频直播檛 know what to do,香蕉视频直播� and you just feel hopeless,香蕉视频直播� she said.

香蕉视频直播淪o it香蕉视频直播檚 great having someone to smile at you and say, 香蕉视频直播榊ou know what, you香蕉视频直播檙e welcome here. Let me help you. How can I do that?香蕉视频直播� And Food Banks Canada is that person for me.香蕉视频直播�