Emergency food assistance: more than 422,000 grocery hampers distributed to Quebeckers in need in a single month

The 2012 Quebec HungerCount provides information on the usage rate of food banks in Quebec and provides a snapshot of those who turn to food assistance programs.

Montreal, Oct. 30, 2012 – The results of the 2012 Quebec HungerCount survey show a significant increase of 17% over 2011 in the number of grocery hampers distributed each month to Quebeckers living in poverty. In a typical month, the organizations served by the member Moissons of the Food Banks of Quebec network respond to more than 1.8 million requests (groceries, meals and snacks) for emergency food assistance. Almost half of those receiving assistance are families with children (48.4%).

“Even though it may seem surprising to see these results in Quebec, it has become the reality for too many Quebeckers. This year over year increase in the number of people turning to a food bank is troubling, and above all shows how important the work of the members of Food Banks of Quebec is,” confirms Zakary O. Rhissa, executive director of Food Banks of Quebec.

According to HungerCount 2012:

• Families with children make up almost half of households helped by food banks (48.4%);
• 14,6% of people who turn to a food bank for assistance each month do so for the first time;
• 9,9% of those receiving food assistance from a food bank have a income from current or recent employment;
• The percentage of women helped increased 8% over last year (48.9% in 2012, vs 40.9% in 2011);
• In March 2012 (the period covered by the survey), 51.9% of organizations reported an increase in clientele.

The complete HungerCount Quebec 2012 report is available at: www.banquesalimentaires.org/HungerCountQc2012

About Food Banks of Quebec

For nearly 25 years, Food Banks of Quebec (FBQ) has supported and represented a network of 18 Moissons (regional food banks) across Quebec and approximately 1,064 community organizations that they support. The network meets more than 1.8 million requests for emergency food assistance per month.

A member of Food Banks Canada, FBQ is responsible for administering the National Food Sharing System and the HungerCount program in Québec. HungerCount is an annual socio-economic report portraying the people who resort to food banks in the province. www.banquesalimentaires.org

For further information:

Pascale Demers
Communication Director
Food Banks of Quebec
(514) 953-5551
PascaleDemers@BanquesAlimentaires.org

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