Supporting the communities where we live and operate is at Aviso’s core. One important cause close to our hearts is Food Banks Canada—an organization we’ve supported for the past four years through monetary donations and an annual food drive.

The need for food banks has never been greater as the pandemic exacerbated food insecurity for many Canadians. On top of experiencing an increased need, food banks are facing rising costs. Here are some of the jarring statistics:

• On average, there are almost 2 million visits made to food banks every month in Canada
• Food bank usage is at its highest level in Canada’s food bank history, up 79 per cent since 2019
• 42 per cent of adults with children are having difficulty meeting their basic needs
• 1 in 4 single-parent households (the majority of which are women-led) have gone hungry in the previous 12 months
• 642,257 visits in one month were children
  
  

Aviso employees rolled up their sleeves in May to help make food packs for the After the Bell program. This initiative helps provide nutritious, child-friendly food packages throughout the summer months—a time when school-centred supports are unavailable and children are more vulnerable to food insecurity.

David Rutherford, VP, Corporate Sustainability, notes that “Community involvement is a key value at Aviso. It’s imperative that we support Food Banks Canada in their mission to eliminate food insecurity. The statistics reinforce that it’s never been more important to be involved, especially to help children over the summer break.”

Source: Food Banks Canada