Almost 20,000 people used main food bank in Mississauga last month
Published April 29, 2024 at 3:33 pm
Nearly 20,000 people used Food Banks Mississauga agencies to help them put meals on the table in March, the largest-ever number of people to do so in a single month in the city.
Officials with the charitable organization, which oversees a network of more than 65 agencies across Canada’s seventh-largest city, revealed the grim statistic on Monday as they announced some good news at the same time — the return of the annual Tim Hortons Smile Cookie Campaign taking place this week in support of both FBM and Community Living Mississauga.
“The month of March saw the highest number of food bank users ever in the history of Food Banks Mississauga, with 19,342 food bank users, a 20 per cent increase compared to the previous year,” food bank officials said in a news release today.
By comparison, 16,068 people used FBM agencies in March 2023, that figure representing a 61 per cent increase over March 2022.
“Every month, we are experiencing this record-breaking demand, which is why support from partners like Tim Hortons is needed more than ever to help neighbours living with food insecurity,” continued Meghan Nicholls, CEO of Food Banks Mississauga. “We used to serve 19,000 food bank users in an entire year, and we’re now seeing that many neighbours in need in one month.”
Nicholls added money raised from this year’s Smile Cookie Campaign will support FBM as it tries to meet “this rising, urgent need for food across the city.”
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Last year’s effort, which raised money for charities across Canada, collected $212,158 for the umbrella food bank organization in Mississauga.
“Last year, the Smile Cookie Campaign nationally raised a record-breaking $19.7 million across Canada going to local charities, hospitals and community groups that provide crucial services for their communities,” said Jason McLennan, a Tim Hortons franchise owner.
The popular cookies will be available until Sunday at all Tim Hortons locations in Mississauga and across the GTA. Cost is $1.50 per cookie, with proceeds raised going to various charities, including FBM and Community Living Mississauga on the local front.
CLM executive director Keith Tansley said that organization is fortunate to have a longstanding relationship with Tim Hortons owners.
“We want to say thanks to them, as well as everyone who buys Smile Cookies, on behalf of the hundreds of children and youth who have an intellectual disability who have been able to connect with their community through our summer recreational programs thanks to the funds raised by this campaign.”
Meanwhile, FBM’s 2024 Spring Drive, which began on March 8, concludes tomorrow. The goal is to raise $800,000.
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