How You Can Help Hungry Families This Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving is just around the corner and as many Canadians prepare for their traditional holiday feast, we are reminded that there is someone on almost every corner of this vast country who simply can’t afford to have a big turkey dinner.

One in eight Canadian families struggle to put food on the table and, each month, close to 850,000 Canadians are assisted by food banks.

“Thanksgiving is traditionally a busy time of the year for our food bank,” says Alice Wannan, Salvation Army community and family services director in Owen Sound, Ont.

Many Salvation Army food banks say demand for services remain consistently high, that there wasn’t a break typically seen during the summer and that more people than ever are struggling to make ends meet.

“We’ve never been as low in food donations as we are now,” says Wannan. “It was only probably 10 days ago and we were out of nine of what we call very basic food items.”

Salvation Army food banks seek help from within the community through local food drives and donations to put food on the table for families, neighbours and friends, who don’t often know where they will find their next meal.

Thanksgiving is a time of hope, a time to be thankful and a time of compassion. Together we can make a difference. No one wants to know how hunger feels.