Moisson Sud-Ouest notes a worrying trend as HungerCount 2024 reveals a considerable number of requests met by organizations in the region. In just three years, the number of requests for food aid has jumped by 30,206.

HungerCount 2024 reveals that most of the indicators measured are still in the red. The data collected in March 2024 from the 88 organizations served by Moisson Sud-Ouest couldn't be more eloquent.

The number of monthly requests for food aid responded to by Moisson Sud-Ouest increased from 87,715 in 2023 to 98,929 in 2024. The number of people helped each month has also risen, from 14,700 in 2023 to 15,827 in 2024.

Food bank users continue to come from all walks of life. They include single people, workers, seniors, parents and children. In fact, over 35% of those helped are children.

“For the first time, the issue of food security has been recognized in the government's anti-poverty plan.However, we need to do more to reduce the enormous pressure exerted by the growing need for food aid. We need to make a commitment and undertake structuring actions that attack the roots of poverty.We've recognized the state of emergency, now we must act to help the most vulnerable and reverse the trend we're facing,” emphasizes Yan Ouellette, Director of Communications & Philanthropy at Moisson Sud-Ouest.

A helping hand, but not nearly enough

The $30 million granted by the government in the last budget made a big difference to the network, enabling it to buy more food and meet the considerable demand.
for the network, enabling it to purchase more foodstuffs and meet the considerable demand.

However, according to Moisson Sud-Ouest, it's clear that although inflation has stabilized, the pressure caused by the cost of living is very real, and it's the most vulnerable who continue to suffer the effects.

While the network is helping to fill gaps in the social safety net by supporting those struggling with food insecurity, it will simply be impossible to have a lasting impact without strong public policies to combat poverty, the organization believes.

“Our organization is doing all it can to meet the demand, notably by setting up initiatives in collaboration with several partners in the region to increase the volume of food we distribute, or by holding recurring fund-raising campaigns, but this is not enough. We'll continue to do all we can to support those in need, but we can't solve the problem at source on our own,” says Stéphane Spisak, the organization's General Manager.

Moisson Sud-Ouest in numbers in March 2024

- Number of organizations supported: 88, in the Vaudreuil-Soulanges, Beauharnois-Salaberry and Haut-Saint-Laurent regions;

- Number of snacks distributed per month to children: 35,000;

- Number of meals served: 38,370;

- Number of people using the food bank per month: + 15,500;

- Total number of people helped: 15,827.