New research from Brock University shows that food insecurity in the Region is rising at ‘alarming’ rate.
The new brief called, ‘Increasing Hunger in Niagara: The Need for Action’, shows that from 2022 to 2024, food bank use has increased 154 per cent in Pelham and 148 per cent in both Niagara-on-the-Lake and St. Catharines-Thorold.
The brief’s author, Joanne Heritz, says hunger in Niagara is more pervasive than most of us realize, because many families are depending on religious organizations, and other groups, for food —- and those numbers are not tracked.
She says organizations are doing their programs in isolation, which makes it difficult to get an idea of how pervasive hunger is across Niagara.
19 organizations offer breakfasts, lunches or dinners across Niagara, and they served close to 340,000 meals last year alone.
She wants to raise awareness, hoping it will lead to more financial resources and affordable housing for people facing hunger.
Story credit: Bonnie Heslop
Photo credit: pexels.com/MART PRODUCTION
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