Ontario sees record number of food bank visits in 2025: Feed Ontario reports

Feed Ontario – the province’s largest collective of hunger-relief organizations says food bank usage is at an all-time high and could put pressure on services that are already struggling.

FeedON releases a yearly report on the state of hunger in the province.

The 2025 report says that more than a million people across the province needed a food bank last year in over 8.7 million visits. That’s the highest level of demand on record in Ontario.

One in four visitors were employed but still did not earn enough to make ends meet.

The data comes just ahead of “Giving Tuesday” which fuels a push for donations at local food banks.

Food banks across Hamilton, Halton and Niagara are all saying demand is growing.

Sue Smith, Manager of Emergency Food and Home Delivery with Neighbour to Neighbour’ Hamilton, says more people in the community are relying on foodbanks every month.

“Before we were always referred to as a band aid,” Smith said.

“Now we are actually the paramedics of society.”

“Some of the people who access the food bank used to be donors but now they are in a pinch right now and coming to use our services,” says Emma Shipley, Outreach and Support Coordinator with Community Care of West Niagara.

“People rely on their program for food for themselves and their families and access is steady throughout the month,” says Karen Randell, Executive Director at Food for Life.

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Carolyn Stewart, CEO of Feed Ontario said she is seeing more people move from just getting by to barely holding on.

“It’s really an increased depth of need is what we are seeing with a significant increase in visits,” Stewart said. “Before the pandemic, we used to see people four to five times a year – Now we are seeing people eight to 10 times a year.”

The report warns of a ripple effect that these high numbers can cause. FeedON says with this many people using food banks, the province should expect to see a rise in homelessness, extensive pressure on healthcare and additional community insecurity.

Food banks rely primarily on donations so with tomorrow being Giving Tuesday, they have a message for those who are able to help.

“Donate to a food bank or any social service organization that’s near and dear to your heart,” Stewart said.

“Giving Tuesday is a wonderful reminder that everyone should have the opportunity to celebrate the holidays for themselves and their families,” she said. “It’s an opportunity to give back and make sure everyone has that same opportunity.”

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