22% More Montrealers Sought Help from Food Banks in 2010

The consequences of the economic crisis are still being felt throughout Montreal's food banks

MONTREAL, Nov. 16 /CNW Telbec/ - As part of unveiling the 2010 Hunger Count Montreal, Moisson Montréal paints an annual portrait of how many people visit food banks in Montreal. This year, a record number of people, some 140,697 individuals across the island of Montreal, required assistance from emergency food banks every month. This represents a 22 % increase, the equivalent of 25,230 more persons, compared with 2009.

Among those seeking help, the most significant rise was seen in the number of children, an increase of 35 % over 2009, which means 53,465 compared with 39,605. Today, 2/3 of households are single parents and single individuals while the proportion of households with employment incomes continues to rise and this year represents 13 % of households seeking support. Compared with last year, the number of households on social assistance has risen by 40 % while those receiving employment insurance benefits dropped by 29 %.

The increase in demand is very real and continues to rise among the 213 community organizations served by Moisson Montréal, however, this doesn't include the twenty or so organizations awaiting accreditation. "In 2009, we were faced with a significant drop in food donations but public response to our call for help allowed us to end the year with only a 5 % decrease. Foodstuff donations have since remained constant, but with the record increase in people seeking help from food banks, we are unable to meet the demand of local organizations, which results in a decrease in the amount of help afforded to each one" explains Danielle Blain, Director, Development and Communications with Moisson Montréal.

Food banks' customers are often the first hit by a recession, and they are usually the last to recover. It is often when people reach the end of their resources that they decide to seek assistance from a food bank for the first time.

For the complete version of the 2010 Hunger Count, please visit the Moisson Montréal website: http://www.moissonmontreal.org/en/highlights.html

What the numbers say?

• 140,697 people on the island of Montreal receive help each month, an increase of 22 %. (115,467 people in 2009).
• Moisson Montreal helps 213 community organizations (211 organizations in 2009).  Among these organizations, 163 provide food bank services and 139 serve meals. Many do both.
• There are 131,200 grocery bags distributed every month (an increase of 13.4 %).
• 86,350 people received grocery bags from food banks, a 64 % increase (52,569 in 2009).
• A total of 543,470 meals are served monthly (decrease of 13.6  %).
• 54,347 people receive meal services, a 14 % decrease (62,898 in 2009).

Client Profile:

• 53,465 children receive food aid every month, a 35 % increase (36,605 in 2009).
• Single parent families and single people comprise 2/3 of households receiving assistance.
• The number of households on social assistance has risen by 40 % while that of households receiving employment insurance benefits has dropped by 29 %.
• The proportion of households with employment incomes has risen since 2009 and this year represents 13% of all households seeking assistance.
• The number of households living on loan and bursary programs has more than doubled this year.

About Hunger Count Montréal

Hunger Count Montreal is an annual report on poverty and food bank use on the Island of Montreal. Hunger Count 2010 is the product of an extensive study conducted in March of 2010 with community organizations across the Island of Montreal for which Moisson Montreal is the primary source of supplies. Hunger Count is part of a national survey conducted by members of the Canadian Association of Food Banks.

About Moisson Montréal

Moisson Montreal is large scale center that receives and distributes food and essential products free of charge to community organizations across the Island of Montreal all year round. Moisson Montreal distributes approximately 7.7 million kilograms of foodstuff to 213 community organizations assisting 140,697 persons each month. Moisson Montreal is a non-profit organization financed almost exclusively by donations, requiring the collaboration of 2,400 volunteers each year. For more information about Moisson Montréal, please visit our website at http://www.moissonmontreal.org 

For further information:

Marjolaine Beaulieu
Communications Coordinator
514 344-4494 ext. 237
Cell.: 514-701-4206
[email protected]g