Help End Summer Hunger

Close to one million people – including more than 300,000 children – will rely on food banks across Canada this summer.

“When I lost my business, everything changed for me,” says Yolla. “Sometimes I sleep on my pillow and cry. I worked hard for 23 years and never thought I’d be in this situation. The Salvation Army’s food bank is making a hard life a bit better.”

Hunger doesn’t take a vacation, yet when the weather gets warm there is often a decline in food donations.

“Demand continues to increase but food isn’t being donated quickly enough to meet it,” says Major Lisa O’ Doherty in Lloydminster, Alta. “A lull during the summer months is fairly common, but we still continue to see that need for the food bank. Donations are always appreciated and never go unnoticed.”

Last year, The Salvation Army served 184,000 school meals. For the thousands of children who rely on those meals, summer can be a time of hunger and anxiety.  And, when school is out and the meals disappear there is an even deeper strain on already tight budgets.

“I don’t like telling my son I don’t have money to buy him a chocolate bar because I need it for rent,” says Yolla. “The box of food we get from the food bank helps to put a smile on his face. That gives me hope. I am a strong woman and can build my life over again.”

Many Salvation Army food banks are finding it difficult to stock the shelves this summer. Please consider donating to your local food bank and change the outcome of someone’s day. Everyone should have enough food to eat.