Rising Hunger Puts Pressure on Canadian Community Organizations as Good Food Goes to Waste

State of Food Charity in Canada survey, conducted by Ipsos for Second Harvest, finds growing demand for food support and mounting pressure on community organizations

TORONTO, ON – October 7, 2026 – More people across Canada are turning to community organizations for help putting food on the table, while the organizations supporting them are struggling to keep up.

New findings from The State of Food Charity in Canada survey show that 89% of organizations surveyed saw an increase in demand for food over the past year. One in three (33%) has a waitlist for support, while 35% have had to turn people away due to limited food or resources.

Among organizations with a waitlist, the average was 878 people waiting for support. Of those that had turned people away, 41% estimated they had turned away more than 50 people, with an average of 269 people turned away.

"Every week, organizations like ours are seeing more families reach out for food support, including working families who never imagined they would need help," says Vivian N. Etuka, founder and executive director of Bethel Outreach Community Services. "When programs are full or there's a waitlist, hunger doesn't wait. It means parents going without so their children can eat, seniors struggling to stretch what little they have and families choosing between groceries and rent, utilities or other essential bills."  

At the same time, the findings point to an opportunity to make better use of food that is already available.  On average, 36% of the food available at responding organizations comes from Second Harvest. Among respondents, 91% said Second Harvest enables them to access more food, while 85% said it helps them save money.

“Canada has enough food to come out of this situation, but too much good food is still going to waste while organizations supporting people are struggling to keep up with demand,” says Lori Nikkel, CEO of Second Harvest. “Connecting surplus food with communities is one practical way we can help strengthen the organizations that are already doing this essential work.”

The findings come five years after Second Harvest’s "Canada’s Invisible Food Network” research highlighted the thousands of community organizations across the country that provide food and other support to people experiencing food insecurity.

The new survey also shows that this network extends well beyond traditional food bank systems. Nearly half (49%) of organizations surveyed said they do not access food or other supports through the federal, provincial or regional food bank networks. Respondents included food banks and pantries, shelters, community development organizations, faith-based organizations, public institutions, and food recovery and redistribution organizations, among others.

Through the Second Harvest Food Rescue App, food businesses can post surplus food that is available for donation, while local non-profit organizations can claim the food and arrange a pickup. The app helps connect surplus food with organizations serving people in their communities.  

Food businesses can join it and connect their surplus food with local non-profit organizations.

About the Survey

The State of Food Charity in Canada survey was conducted by Ipsos for Second Harvest from May 29 to July 13, 2026. Ipsos distributed the questionnaire to 2,468 organizations in Second Harvest’s partner network. A total of 1,610 organizations completed the survey, representing a 65% response rate. The findings reflect the organizations that responded to the survey.

About Second Harvest

Second Harvest is Canada’s largest food rescue organization and a global thought leader on food waste and perishable food redistribution. It rescues unsold surplus food from thousands of food businesses from across the supply chain to redistribute it to non-profits in every province and territory. This prevents harmful greenhouse gases from entering the atmosphere while improving access to nutrition for millions of Canadians experiencing food insecurity. Beyond food rescue and redistribution, Second Harvest is deeply involved in advocacy, research, training and education. Its groundbreaking reports, such as “The Avoidable Crisis of Food Waste,” provide critical data and insights to inform public policy and educate the public on sustainable food systems.

Second Harvest is committed to driving systemic change, helping to shape policies and practices that reduce food waste and address its role in climate change, while also supporting communities by providing them with the food they need.  

To learn more, visit www.secondharvest.ca    

For media inquiries, please contact:
Giao Chau, Communications Manager
Email: giaoc@secondharvest.ca
Phone: 416-346-3617