The charitable hunger-relief sector is in the unique position of knowing how to not only respond to rising food insecurity, but to champion long-term change in this space, writes Second Harvest CEO Lori Nikkel.
Today, one in four people – 10 million Canadians, including 2.5 million children – live in households that cannot afford the food they need.
This is the third year in a row that food insecurity has risen, with many turning to charity for the first time, putting pressure on a support system that was never designed to meet this level of need. For too long, the charitable hunger-relief sector has been holding down the fort as the country’s social assistance programs fail to meet demand. While I wish that organizations like ours were no longer needed, the fact remains that we are needed now more than ever. We are also in the unique position of knowing how to not only respond to the community’s food needs, but to champion long-term change in this space.
Here’s what we can do to amplify our impact as leaders in the non-profit sector.
Champion cross-sector collaboration
Non-profits must lead the call for stronger, smarter collaboration across sectors. Many of the issues we face today – poverty, hunger, climate change, among others – are complex and interconnected. Partnerships between non-profits, governments, businesses, and communities allow each stakeholder to transform their differences into strengths, combining expertise, resources, and on-the-ground relationships for a common cause.
This kind of collaboration is at the heart of food rescue. Second Harvest’s research shows that if all the avoidable food waste in Canada were rescued, we would be able to feed 17 million people, three meals a day, for a full year. Only by working closely with businesses from across the supply chain can we recover surplus food before it goes to waste – from farmers, manufacturers, and processors to retailers, restaurants, and event venues.
Logistics partnerships are also critical in ensuring the timely distribution of perishable, nutritious food to communities. Together with our logistics and non-profit partners, we’ve rescued and redistributed food using trucks, trains, boats, airplanes, barges, and more.
The expanded scale and reach from collaboration can also ensure that non-profits aren’t overlooked. For every grocery store in Canada, there are four charities that support people with food. This network includes standard food banks and soup kitchens, as well as everything from faith-based groups to social clubs and job-support programs – organizations where providing food is just one part of their services.
Embrace innovation
At a time when charitable giving is at a historic low and demand for support continues to climb, non-profits are doing more with less. It’s this can-do mentality that has driven us to adopt an innovative mindset, finding more ways to be resourceful and resilient.
Knowing that Canada has a food-distribution problem, Second Harvest developed a food-rescue app that connects businesses that have surplus food directly to non-profits in their communities, allowing them to post and claim donations in real time. This has been a game changer in our food-redistribution efforts.
For other organizations, innovation means reimagining the experience of food charity itself. Last summer, the Regina Food Bank opened the country’s first full-scale free grocery store. It’s a model that not only reduces waste, but also restores autonomy and choice.
Besides adopting new technology, innovation also comes when staff are empowered with new tools and knowledge. Training programs on food safety, preservation, logistics, and more can help organizations build capacity and serve their communities more effectively.
Advocate for systemic change
Finally, we must never lose sight that food insecurity is not about food – it’s about income. Hunger is a symptom of deeper structural issues, including low wages, precarious employment, unaffordable housing, and inadequate social assistance. Charity alone will not solve the problem.
What we need is strong, evidence-based public policies that lift people out of poverty and protect their right to basic nutrition. Research from PROOF at the University of Toronto makes this clear: food insecurity declines when household incomes rise. Targeted public policy – such as income supports like the Canada Child Benefit and public old-age pensions, increasing minimum wage, investing in affordable housing and accessible healthcare – is one of the tools for reducing food insecurity in Canada.
As we work to help people put food on the table today, let’s also ensure that they can eat tomorrow, without relying on us.
