B.C. food banks grapple with surging demand, falling donations – BC [Video]

Demand for food banks in British Columbia is surging, reflecting a grim national trend.

B.C. food banks report they’re seeing more than 225,000 monthly visits, up 15 per cent over 2023. About one-third of B.C. food bank users are children, who account for more than 70,000 visits, according to the report.

It comes as Food Banks Canada released data Monday showing food banks across the country reported more than two million visits in March, up six per cent from last year and nearly double from 2019.

The figures are no surprise to Hajira Hussain, the executive director of the Richmond Food Bank.

Hussain said demand is up 41 per cent over last year at her food bank, and almost 200 per cent from the start of the COVID-19 pandemic.

She said the surging cost of food and housing has left many working people reliant on the service just to get by.

“We have …