MISSISSAUGA, ON, Sept. 13, 2017 /CNW/ - Food banks in Canada are marking Hunger Awareness Week from September 18th through the 22nd to raise awareness of the fact that each month, more than 860,000 men, women and children turn to a food bank for help.
Food banks across the country will be participating in Hunger Awareness Week by inviting all Canadians, including community members, businesses and government representatives to participate in a full calendar of local events and activities including food bank tours, lunch and learns and other informative opportunities.
Hunger and household food insecurity impacts many Canadians, and a recent poll*, conducted by Food Banks, tells a powerful story of how close Canadians are to the hunger issue. The poll shockingly indicated that more than half of respondents know someone who has been helped by a food bank which speaks to hunger's far reaching impact.
Canadians from all walks of life are being helped by food banks each and every day however the poll also revealed that respondents don't fully know who is being served. For example only 50 % of respondents indicated that children are helped, when in fact over 300,000 kids each month are supported by a local food bank.
"Although a majority of Canadians understand that hunger and household food insecurity is a serious issue in Canada, there is much more that Canadians can learn," says Mimi Lowi-Young, Executive Director, Food Banks Canada. "We are challenging all Canadians to learn more about hunger in Canada and in turn take action so we can ensure our neighbours don't have to go hungry."
And while Canadians may not know who turns to food banks, eight in ten surveyed understand that they play a role in helping those who are hungry in our nation. Hunger Awareness Week is a call to action to for everyone to take part by:
Thank you to National Hunger Hero sponsor- Farm Credit Canada. FCC has been a long term supporter of local food banks through their Drive Away Hunger campaign and a sponsor of Hunger Awareness Week since 2013.
For more information on Hunger Awareness Week visit www.hungerawarenessweek.ca.
*A survey of 1527 Canadians was completed online between July 31 to August 3, 2017 using Leger's online panel, LegerWeb. A probability sample of the same size would yield a margin of error of +/-2.5%, 19 times out of 20.
Stats drawn from: HungerCount 2016, Food Banks Canada. For the complete 2016 HungerCount report please go to HungerCount 2016 and Leger Research Intelligence Group 2017
About Hunger Awareness Week
Hunger Awareness Week (hungerawarenessweek.ca) was created in 2006 to provide food banks with an opportunity to educate about the reality of hunger in Canada and to encourage all Canadians to make a choice to help those in need. This is the first year that Hunger Awareness Week is being held in September. Together, Canadians can make an impact on the solvable issue of hunger in Canada. Follow the conversation at #HungerWeek.
About Food Banks Canada
Food Banks Canada supports a unique network of over 3,000 food-related organizations in every province and territory that assists more than 850,000 Canadians each month. Together our network shares over 200 million pounds of essential, safe, quality food annually, provides social programs that help to foster self-sufficiency, and advocates for policy change that will help create a Canada where no one goes hungry. Follow Food Banks Canada at Facebook.com/FoodBanksCanada and on Twitter @FoodBanksCanada.
SOURCE Food Banks Canada
Media Contacts: Sonia Prashar, spPR, T: 416.560.6753, E: [email protected]; Marzena Gersho, Food Banks Canada, M: 647 242 5919, T: 905 602 5234 x228, E: [email protected]
About Food Banks Canada Food Banks Canada provides national leadership to relieve hunger today and prevent hunger tomorrow in collaboration with the food bank network from coast-to-coast-to-coast. For 40 years, food banks have been dedicated to helping Canadians living with...
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