‘People are having to make impossible choices’: Perth-area food bank demand up 17% in 3 years as affordability pressures continue

The Good Food Bank in Perth is reporting that demand in the area remains above pre-pandemic levels, pointing to a stark increase in households served over the last three years.

In recognition of September being Hunger Action Month, an annual campaign led by Feed Ontario and food banks across the province, The Table Community Food Centre recently issued a notice highlighting the continued need for food bank services.

The campaign aims to raise public awareness about food insecurity, encourage support for local food banks and promote sustainable approaches to reducing poverty and food insecurity.

Between 2022 and 2023, and 2025 and 2026, the number of households served by the Good Food Bank reportedly increased by 17 per cent, according to Amica Hewitt, the food bank’s co-lead for operations and inventory.

Hewitt said the increase is not concentrated among one particular demographic; families with children, seniors, working individuals and everyone in between are all seeking assistance.

“We’re seeing people who never expected they would need a food bank,” Hewitt told Lanarkist. “That mirrors what we’re seeing across Ontario, where 35 per cent of food bank visitors were first-time visitors in 2024–25, and almost one in four identified employment as their primary source of income.”

In rural communities, Hewitt added, the complex financial pressures facing households can be particularly difficult to see and understand from the outside looking in.

“People may be working, they have a vehicle because they have to drive long distances, and doing everything they can to make ends meet, while still not having enough left over for food,” she explained.

For many Lanark County residents accessing the Good Food Bank, the issue often comes down to having to choose between basic life necessities, given that their incomes are not keeping pace with the inflating cost of essentials.

Transportation can add another challenge for rural residents, who may need to maintain a vehicle to get to work, access services or travel to places where affordable food is available. Despite the need for a vehicle, residents may not be able to keep up with the cost of gas or insurance rates.

“The biggest thing we hear is that people are having to make impossible choices,” Hewitt detailed. “They’re choosing between food, rent, utilities, transportation, medication and other basic necessities.”

An unexpected expense, such as a car repair, increased rent, or a higher than usual utility bill, can be enough to push a household into a temporary or long-term state of financial crisis, Hewitt noted.

Building from the momentum of Hunger Action Month, The Table Community Food Centre is working to challenge misconceptions and stereotypes about those who uses food banks.

“There isn’t a particular type of person who uses a food bank,” Hewitt said. “There’s a lot of stigma in smaller communities because people value their privacy and may worry about being recognized. We want people to know that needing help with food is not a reflection of their character or work ethic.”

The Table Community Food Centre is participating in the Hunger Action Month campaign this year by joining Feed Ontario’s postcard initiative, which encourages residents to contact municipal politicians and candidates ahead of the Oct. 26 municipal election to ask about their plans to address food insecurity.

“Food banks can provide immediate support, but ultimately, hunger is an income and affordability issue,” Hewitt emphasized. “We need to keep working toward a community where people have enough resources to afford food and other basic necessities without having to rely on a food bank.”

The organization is also encouraging residents to learn more about food insecurity in their communities through Feed Ontario’s “Hunger in My Community” tool and to support local food banks through donations or volunteering.

The Table Community Food Centre, formerly the Perth & District Food Bank, was founded in 2012. It serves an area around Perth, Smiths Falls and surrounding rural communities through programs including its Good Food Bank, community meals, Falls Food Hub, community garden, children and youth programs and Fresh Food Box.